NST: March 7, 2008
By ANDREW SAGAYAM
KUALA LUMPUR: Vandals hurled red paint on the front gate of Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Rashid Abdul Rahman’s Lembah Pantai house.
Witnesses saw three men in a dark-coloured car make a U-turn and stop at Rashid’s house in Lorong Bukit Pantai at 2.30am yesterday.
A man got out of the car and hurled three cans of oil-based red paint at Rashid’s front gate, said the witnesses.
Police found three empty cans of red paint at the scene. The red paint also hit a car in Rashid’s house.
Rashid said he believed the incident had something to do with the last-minute move by the commission to scrap the use of the indelible ink announced on Tuesday.
“A lot of criticism was hurled at us for that decision and some supporters could have taken this to heart,” he said.
Rashid said those responsible for “painting his gate” did not “use their brains” as they assumed that the commission was politically inclined.
He stressed that the commission was not a political party and also not involved in politics, and that its duty was to manage the election process.
“Go to the polls if you want change but stop throwing paint at people’s house.
“Don’t think I will be frightened by these kinds of scare tactics. I will continue to do my job and lead the EC,” he said.
City police chief Deputy Comm Muhammad Sabtu Osman said police would provide extra patrols in the area in view of what had happened.
Meanwhile, DAP candidate for the Kinrara state seat Teresa Kok’s service centre in the constituency was also splashed with red paint.
Campaign volunteer Mah Shaw Loon said the paint was still wet when he discovered it 1.30am yesterday.
Kok, who is defending the Seputeh parliamentary seat, lodged a police report over the incident.