The following appeared in Malaysiakini:

A public forum to discuss the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) on Saturday night was marred by not one but two separate incidents.A speaker at the forum was allegedly punched by an irate ex-MIC politician after the event in Butterworth had ended. Last night, a police report was lodged in Jalan Patani police state alleging R Arunasalam of assaulting retired civil servant, K Balakrishnan, 62. The incident allegedly happened at the Sri Mariamman Hall when Balakrishnan was talking with a few friends after the forum.

The former MIC politician, who did not attend the forum, had stormed into the hall at about 11pm and hit Balakrishnan twice at the back of his neck, and accused the forum speaker of criticising him in his speech.

According to witnesses, Balakrishnan, a diabetic patient and currently undergoing dialysis treatment for kidney failure, nearly fainted from the assault. The furious MIC politician, who had to be escorted out from the hall, allegedly hurled verbal abuses against Balakrishnan before leaving.

It is learnt that the politician, a staunch supporter of former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam, has been short-listed for appointment as a chairperson in one of the five Hindu temples under the jurisdiction of PHEB, a statutory board of trustees.

Earlier, Balakrishnan had raised his reservations over the purported appointment, and criticised the DAP-dominated PHEB for attempting to appoint the politician on grounds that “he had on numerous previous occasions called for the government to abolish the board”.

Police told Malaysiakini that the case would be investigated immediately for it involved a ‘VIP’.

The United Hindu Religious Council and Penang Makkal Sakti Welfare Association (Pemaswa) jointly organise the forum, which was officiated by Padang Serai member of parliament N Gobalakrishnan.

Earlier, during the forum’s question-and-answer session, a youth criticised the forum as irrelevant and lambasted Pemaswa leadership of “misusing and abusing” the spirit of Makkal Sakti (people’s power), a popular tagline for the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

Identifying himself only as Satish from Hindraf, the youth in his early 20s, hurled abuses at the organisers and abruptly demanded a ‘vote of no-confidence’ on the forum’s organisers. He also called on about 200 people at the forum to stage a walkout, but no one heeded him as he left the hall.

When contacted, Hindraf national coordinator RS Thanenthiran denied that the youth was a Hindraf supporter and said the movement would never allow its supporters to behave in such a manner at a public forum. “Hindraf condemned such unruly behaviour,” he told Malaysiakini.

Organisers later told Malaysiakini the youth was ‘an agent’ deliberately sent to cause disruptions to the forum, and criticised the tactic as a “shameful cowardice act ala MIC.”

Several PHEB commissioners and DAP assemblypersons are said to have used unethical methods to halt the forum since Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, a Bagan MP, have declined the invitation to officiate it. Even though Lim has earlier indicated his desire to attend the forum, he spurned the offer citing an overload of work. Similarly Bagan Jermal state assemblyperson Lim Hock Seng also declined when he was invited instead. Both politicians are said to be influenced by certain quarters not to go to the forum.

This has apparently infuriated many Bagan’s Indian constituents, who have backed the DAP in the recent general election.

The forum organisers, an influential group among the Indian community in Penang mainland, warned that this controversy would be a major problem for the DAP-led state government if left unresolved.