A-G taken aback by ruckus from Najib supporters who crashed press conference.
A planned press conference by Attorney-General Tommy Thomas had to be cancelled when supporters of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak turned rowdy.
They chanted “Bahasa Malaysia” when Thomas spoke in English.
The crowd then shouted “Melayu” and “Hidup Melayu” to drown out Thomas’ voice until he had to be escorted away.
Chants of “Hidup Najib” and “Allahu-Akhbar” were also heard.
Thomas said he was taken aback by the aggressive behaviour of the supporters.
“I’m a little surprised. I was expecting questions from the press.
“I never expected that (the commotion). Hopefully, it was recorded and uploaded online for posterity so that everyone can make up their mind (about what happened),” he addressed the media outside the High Court on Wednesday.
The supporters began berating Thomas as he approached the lobby of the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex where the press conference had been arranged, denouncing him for conducting the court proceedings in English earlier.
“Guna Bahasa Malaysia! (Use Bahasa Malaysia!)” the cries came at first, before rising to a crescendo of shouts.
Thomas earlier sought the court’s permission to proceed with Najib’s prosecution in English.
The crowd mocked him repeatedly, with some questioning his citizenship for not being fluent in Bahasa Malaysia.
Thomas stood and smiled as he waited for the crowd to settle down, but walked away when it became apparent that they were becoming increasingly agitated.
Actress Ellie Suriaty Omar, believed to be the instigator of the chants, then had her MyKad taken by police personnel who were attempting to calm the group.
The crowd moved outside the lobby when police escorted some of the more hostile protesters outside, where the shouting and jostling continued.
Police personnel eventually managed to persuade the 50-odd supporters to leave the area.
Ironically, many of the placards held by Najib supporters outside the court complex were in a mix of Chinese and English.
Among others, the supporters included Wanita Umno head Noraini Ahmad and Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam.
Thomas called later for another press conference, this time on an upper floor free of Najib’s supporters.
He previously conceded to a poor command of the national language.
Thomas also said that the prosecution was taken by surprise by the gag order against the media and will object the order again.