Anwar supporter apologises over crumpled memo
The Anwar Ibrahim supporter who was caught on video crumpling a memo left by a group of Human Rights Party supporters apologised for his actions if it hurt the feelings of those involved, but hoped that they too would understand that he was only looking to keep the peace at the opposition leader’s home.
The Anwar Ibrahim supporter who was caught on video crumpling a memo left by a group of Human Rights Party supporters apologised for his actions if it hurt the feelings of those involved, but hoped that they too would understand that he was only looking to keep the peace at the opposition leader’s home.
“I apologise if my actions has hurt their feelings, I really am sorry. But I was only trying to control the situation,” said Saidin in an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini in the parliament lobby today.
Identifying himself only as Pak Din or Saidin, he said that he has been with Anwar for over 20 years and was there coincidentally that night.
He stressed that he is not a member of Anwar’s bodyguard unit, dubbed the A-Team, or the security detachment at the opposition leader’s house, and was only concerned about the family of the Permatang Pauh parliamentarian.
“Anwar's children have a phobia when a large group of people gather in front of their house. It has been like that for them,” he said.
Saidin related that he was also worried that the locals who look up to Anwar might come over and further complicate the situation.
“They sometimes look to his security as well as the people from the mosque and the surau. I want to control it so those people would not get involved.”
Refuting rumours that he is a silat grandmaster, he said that he is just a regular silat exponent, but admitted to having several students of his own.
Quizzed if he thinks his actions can be seen as a bit rough, he said that the members of the group, too, were provoking him and did not pay proper respect to the village surroundings and the PKR de facto leader’s house, gathering as they did at night.
He also questioned they way they delivered the memo.
“They did not give the memo to me, though if they wanted to they could have. I have no problem accepting it. But they left the memo on the ground. I was only picking it up. It was crumpled because it was only two pieces of paper and not properly folded or in an envelope,” said Saidin.
Anwar not at home
He said that he was a bit brusque because the Hindraf members seemed to be trying to surge forward towards the gate, as they disbelieved him when he told them that Anwar was not inside.
He insisted that the Hindraf members should have been reasonable and hand over the memo at one of Anwar’s offices instead of gathering at his home.
“I understand that they want to demonstrate and to give a memo. I, too, have experience as a demonstrator. But don’t do it at a person’s house. I have never once demonstrated in front of a house.”
“They can do it at one of Anwar’s offices, he has two offices. One in Parliament, one in Petaling Jaya. They should respect the village surroundings and his home,” he reasoned.
PKR director of strategy Tian Chua, who accompanied Saidin during the interview, confirmed that Anwar was indeed not at home last night as he was overseas.
He said that Anwar’s wife and PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and his daughter Lembah Pantai parliamentarian Nurul Izzah Anwar were also absent from the family home and only returned sometime before the conclusion of the night’s events.
Tian Chua said that neither Anwar nor his family were aware of the crowd of Hindraf members who arrived to hand over their memorandum.
According to him further, from his information, the security personnel on duty also did not notify Anwar or his family since they thought those sending the memo only wanted to pass over the document and not hand it over to Anwar personally.
Saidin expressed his regrets that the matter ended as it did and hoped that the Hindraf members would understand his actions.
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