Federal reserve unit police guard the entrance of the Penang state assembly building during the demonstration by Umno protesters in George Town, on May 21, 2014. — Picture by K.E. Ooi

GEORGE TOWN, May 22 — Penang Umno insisted today that the intrusion by a group of party members at the state legislative assembly could have been avoided if DAP’s RSN Rayer had apologised for his “celaka” remark.

In a statement here, Penang Umno chief Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman pointed out that it was out of anger at Rayer’s words that the group outside the state assembly building had decided to break into the august House to demand an apology.

If Rayer had agreed to apologise and retract his remarks, the entire demonstration would not have even happened, the leader said.

“We deny accusations by the Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng that Umno failed to control our members which resulted in them forcing themselves into the hall,” he said.

“The forcing of the gates and storming into the august hall was due to their anger at Rayer’s outspoken manner and rude words aimed at provoking Umno members,” he added.

Zainal said Penang Umno was in full support of the demonstration but disagreed with how it had gone wrong when party members decided to breach the assembly gate to get inside the hall.

“We do not agree with the intrusion and the act of breaching the gates by a small group of the demonstrators,” he said.

The former Nibong Tebal MP then told Rayer that he should not have issued such remarks during assembly proceedings as it would only invite reaction from those he insulted.

“He should not have abused the space to debate at the assembly by using foul words with the intention to insult any party,” Zainal said.

He demanded that Rayer apologise to all Umno members, especially as it was his words that had sparked the demonstration yesterday.

“We regret that he has remained stubborn and refused to apologise,” he said.

Yesterday, about 50 Umno youth members demonstrated outside the gates of the state legislative assembly before they broke through the gate and a dozen of them forced their way into the august hall.

They went into the hall shouting for Rayer and demanding that he apologise and retract his words calling Umno ‘celaka’.

The group left the hall after being persuaded by officials but continued to demonstrate outside the gates until about 4.30pm.

The state assembly has since approved two motions condemning the intrusion, demanding that criminal charges be brought against the culprits and that State Opposition leader Datuk Jahara Hamid apologise on their behalf.

This morning, a group of Umno members, believed to be the same as those from yesterday, turned up again outside the state legislative assembly but this time, they were kept under close watch by the police.

Jahara later told them not to approach the legislative assembly building. The group complied and left the area shortly after.