Tian Chua the trouble maker

Polling Marked By War Of Words Between BN, Opposition Supporters
KUALA SELANGOR, April 28 (Bernama) -- Scenes of heated exchanges of words between supporters of Barisan Nasional (BN) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) outside polling centres marked the voting process in the Ijok state by-election in Selangor Saturday.
Both camps could also be seen canvassing for votes at the entrances to the nine polling centres in Sungai Darah, Batang Berjuntai, Jaya Setia, Bukit Badong, Kampung Ijok, Pekan Ijok, Simpang Ijok, Tuan Mee, and Pekan Berjuntai Bestari Utara.
Under the watchful eye of dozens of police personnel on duty at the polling stations, BN and opposition supporters were spotted hurling insults at each other. The situation was rather tense but under control.
A Bernama survey found that it had been a rather slow start as voting was taking place amid overcast skies with rain being reported in several areas.
It is a straight fight between BN's K. Parthiban, 38, and PKR's Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, 61.
The by-election is being held following the death of BN assemblyman Datuk K. Sivalingam, 59, on April 4.
In the 2004 general election, Sivalingam beat PKR's Abdol Rahman Moharam and independent candidate Mohamed Shariff Nagoorkani by a 1,649-vote majority.
At the Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Badong polling station, BN and PKR supporters were seen shoving each other as PKR information chief faced difficulty in reaching his party's booth.
The incident was said to have started when BN supporters overflowed into the PKR area which coincided with Tian Chua's arrival, prompting him to be mistakenly accused of trying to canvass for votes among prospective BN voters.
Police immediately intervened to control the situation but a disgruntled Tian Chua could not resist to have a war of words with the police personnel present.
Meanwhile, several BN leaders such as Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal were seen assisting wheelchair-bound senior citizens and disabled persons making their way to the polling centres.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Selangor Menteri Besar were among the leaders who visited several polling stations this morning.
The Ijok constituency has 12,272 registered voters.