Shahrir said he had watched the video posted by Stulang assemblyman Chen Kah Eng on his Facebook account and he did not see any Umno or BN supporters in the video.
PH leaders had claimed that Umno and BN were behind the chaos that forced the opposition to stop its programme at a food stall in Kampung Bakar Batu.
“The only party symbols in the video were those of DAP, PKR and PPBM, seen on the shirts of YB Chen’s group, which also included YB Lim.
“I cannot see any Umno or BN shirts being worn by the villagers. To blame BN and Umno for this incident is unfair,” he said.
Shahrir, who has been Johor Bahru MP for three terms, said he could not tell who or what had provoked the strong reaction from the locals who came from a religious activity.
PPBM’s secretary Osman Sapian had claimed the villagers were paid to create chaos at the event.
“I do not rule out the possibility that the local leaders do not like us there. What is more shocking was the village headman also joined in to provoke us,” Osman said.
Shahrir said Lim, as a DAP Johor leader, can have the “same free access as he had during the GE 13 campaign period”.
“After all, he was in Kampung Bakar Batu at the invitation of the state assemblyman,” Shahrir said.
On Saturday, Lim, Osman, Chen and PKR Johor information chief Akmal Nasir were forced to leave the food stall after being pressured by some villagers.
Lim, who is also Gelang Patah MP, was in the village to distribute mandarin oranges and hold a dialogue session with the locals at the warung.
While Lim and his fellow PH leaders were holding a press conference at the stall on the incident, the electricity was disconnected.
An ustaz and some residents then demanded that the media conference be stopped.
They also called on the event organisers to stop criticising Umno.
An individual, who tried to act as a mediator, asked the group of residents to give 10 minutes for the press conference to wrap up.
Shahrir said Chen should have built a strong sense of respect with his voters over the last four years.
“That respect and appreciation from the villagers as voters should be more than enough to make YB Lim feel welcome in the village,” he said.
Earlier today, Lim said Shahrir should state his stand on the disruption and issue an explanation.
“I have always known Shahrir as one of the Umno leaders who is more committed to the principles and practices of parliamentary democracy.
“I will be most shocked if he has so changed as to mastermind or countenance what happened in Kg Bakar Batu last night,” Lim said.
Chen also said in a statement today that Umno and its supporters should practise mature politics and stop intimidating the people who wished to meet their leaders.
“Be it BN or Pakatan Harapan, we have the right to do our programmes and get in touch with the people. Let the people decide who they want to pick in the coming 14th general election.
“What Umno did last night was putting political pressure on the warung (food stall) owner to stop our programme and bring its supporters to create chaos at our event.”
Villagers force PH dialogue near Johor Bahru to be cancelled