A Keadilan party worker involved in the Indera Kayangan by-election campaign was last night assaulted by a group of men whom he alleged to be Barisan Nasional supporters.

Abdul Rahim Ismail (left), 41, from Ipoh Timur, suffered injuries to his head and back which required 11 stitches at the Kangar general hospital.

He said the attack by the seven men took place outside the Sekolah Menengah Derma polling centre at Jalan Pekan Lama at about 11.30pm. The campaigning period for the by-election ended at midnight.

Rahim, a van driver, said he noticed that the men wearing navy blue T-shirts and vests bearing the BN logo.

Rahim lodged a report at the Kangar police contingent headquarters at about 1 am. He was accompanied by lawyer R Sivarasa who is also PRM vice-president.

Iron chains

According to Rahim, the incident occurred when he and eight other party workers were asked by two uniformed men to remove several Keadilan posters and banners hung along the road in front of the Sekolah Menengah Derma polling centre.

The posters and banners were said to have violated election regulations as campaigning material cannot be placed less than 50 metres from the entrance of a polling station.

After the uniformed duo had left, Rahim and his friends, who are Keadilan members from Melaka and Ipoh, started removing the posters when they were approached by about thirty men on motorcycles.

"They ordered me to bring down posters which were hung about ten feet high on a lamp post. I refused (to do so) because there was no ladder. One of the men then slapped me on the face," he told malaysiakini.

"After that, about seven of them bashed me up for about five minutes. They hit me with wooden sticks, iron chains and helmets," he said, adding that his friends managed to flee the scene.

An eyewitness, who requested anonymity, said after Rahim was slapped, he kicked one of the assailants and attempted an escape but his assailants gave chase and caught hold of him.

Seven stations

Since nomination day last Thursday, Keadilan members have reported several incidences of violence on their party workers by whom they allege to be BN members and supporters.

Meanwhile, although nine-day campaigning period was supposed to officially end at midnight, supporters of both parties were still seen parading in their vehicles adorned with party flags until about 4am.

MCA's Oui Ah Lan, 58, a retired Chinese school headmistress will meet Keadilan's Khoo Yang Chong, who is a 60-year-old former teacher for the by-election contest today. The state seat fell vacant following the death of BN state assemblyman Khor Liang Tee last month.

There are seven polling stations in the mixed-constituency. Polling is scheduled to end at 5.30pm and the result is expected to be announced at 8 pm.