Three Barisan poll centres torched

(The Star) – Three Barisan Nasional district election centres in Kampung Manggol, Kampung Gelam and Kampung Machang here were reported to have been torched by unknown culprits over the past four days.

The most serious damage was said to have occurred in Kampung Manggol near Malau, where banners, four tables and 1,000 posters of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Kubang Pasu parliamentary candidate Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum and Jitra candidate Aminuddin Omar were burnt in the early morning fire yesterday.

Kampung Manggol district election centre worker Haslis Saad said he was informed of the fire by a passer-by at 5.20am.

“I usually close the operations centre at 4am daily and go back to my house about 400m away. The fire happened just half an hour after I got home,” he said. He later lodged a police report.

A nearby trader claimed that he saw a man on a motorcycle bearing an Opposition party flag roaming near the centre earlier.

Kubang Pasu OCPD Supt Ibrahim Mohd Yusoff confirmed receiving the police reports.

Aminuddin described the attack on the Barisan operations centre as undemocratic and uncivilised.

Kedah Barisan chairman Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said round-the-clock surveillance would be put in place.