Chaos erupted at the PKR Youth Congress opening this morning as sacked permanent chairman Mizan Adli Md Noor was smuggled in amid heavy security.
Supporters of Mizan, who was controversially sacked as the wing’s permanent chairman, tried to force their way into the Classic Ballroom of Melaka International Trade Centre.
Scores of PKR Youth security personnel dressed in black were seen clashing with Mizan and others who attempted to force their way inside the event hall.
Mizan had earlier held a press conference at which he said he and his comrades had been barred from entering the hall.
He also claimed he was assaulted and pushed when he did manage to enter.
He was ejected just a few minutes later after a delegation stood up and pushed him out just as the former tried to stand up to take his place at the table.
The situation was chaotic with scenes of pushing and shoving.
Penang state executive councillor Dr Afif Bahardin was also stopped from entering but managed to get in.
The congress first order of business was to choose a new permanent chairman after Mizan and his deputy, Mohd Ramly Ahmad, was sacked last week by the youth leadership led by its chief Akmal Nasrullah Md Nasir.
Mizan and Afif is seen to be aligned to deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali while Akmal is a member of party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s faction.
Mizan claimed he had been blocked from the meeting because he had been stripped of his position.
“The party only fired me, but they did not allow me to enter the hall, this is unfair and not democratic.
“Party president (Anwar Ibrahim) and deputy president (Azmin Ali) already decided to elect a new permanent chairperson.
“So why can’t I come in?” he said.
The congress secretariat later explained in the event’s WhatsApp group that those barred from entering did not have the proper tags.
“Only delegates with a proper tag are allowed to come in. We will resume the entry after situation under control,” the secretariat member said.
The ruckus among the clashing PKR Youth members spilt into the hall, interrupting PKR Information chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin as he called for a vote for the new permanent chairperson and permanent deputy chairperson.
Malacca PKR Youth secretary Rashid Abu Bakar was later appointed as chairperson without a vote because his contender, Pokok Sena PKR youth chief Mohd Shafiq Mohd Altab failed to appear.
The deputy role went to Kedah PKR youth chief Wan Mohamad Syahrezal Wan Shahidan as he was the only candidate.