Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh today denied claims that police personnel dragged their feet as a mob set upon student protesters at Dataran Merdeka this morning.
Mohmad (right) said two plainclothes police personnel were already at the scene when trouble broke out at 2.40am and six police vehicles with 10 uniformed personnel arrived five to six minutes later.
"Police had taken immediate action. Is five or six minutes a long time?"
He also denied claims that the police had stood idly by and watched the drama unfold.
"If we had just watched, the incident would have got worse... One of our detectives was injured on his back and has been taken to hospital for treatment," he said.
Mohmad told reporters that seven others, including a businessman, were injured during the incident.
The businessman, who is in his 40s, suffered an eye injury and is currently warded in Hospital Kuala Lumpur.
The rest declined hospital treatment as their injuries were minor.
He said a 28-year-old self-employed man has been remanded for six days to assist in investigations.
Asked why only one was nabbed when eyewitness videos showed that police arrived when several attackers were still there, he said: “It was early in the morning and we could not differentiate the attackers from those already there.”
“There was also such a small number of personnel there, only two detectives initially,” he said, adding that it should not be an issue.
Mohmad added the police have yet to establish if the attackers were politically linked and hoped to get more information from the remanded suspect.
“We are certain that we can get hold of the other attackers, and we advise them to turn themselves in before we come after them,” he said.
He added that police would consider stationing personnel at Dataran Merdeka, but would not reveal if they will be in uniform.
He also said that police have no jurisdiction to oust the protesters as the area is under the control of the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL).
VIDEO: 3:33 mins
Mohmad (right) said two plainclothes police personnel were already at the scene when trouble broke out at 2.40am and six police vehicles with 10 uniformed personnel arrived five to six minutes later."Police had taken immediate action. Is five or six minutes a long time?"
He also denied claims that the police had stood idly by and watched the drama unfold.
"If we had just watched, the incident would have got worse... One of our detectives was injured on his back and has been taken to hospital for treatment," he said.
Mohmad told reporters that seven others, including a businessman, were injured during the incident.
The businessman, who is in his 40s, suffered an eye injury and is currently warded in Hospital Kuala Lumpur.
The rest declined hospital treatment as their injuries were minor.
He said a 28-year-old self-employed man has been remanded for six days to assist in investigations.Asked why only one was nabbed when eyewitness videos showed that police arrived when several attackers were still there, he said: “It was early in the morning and we could not differentiate the attackers from those already there.”
“There was also such a small number of personnel there, only two detectives initially,” he said, adding that it should not be an issue.
Mohmad added the police have yet to establish if the attackers were politically linked and hoped to get more information from the remanded suspect.“We are certain that we can get hold of the other attackers, and we advise them to turn themselves in before we come after them,” he said.
He added that police would consider stationing personnel at Dataran Merdeka, but would not reveal if they will be in uniform.
He also said that police have no jurisdiction to oust the protesters as the area is under the control of the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL).
VIDEO: 3:33 mins
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