Six held over alleged riot

150 arrests are expected over the detention of a bus said to be transporting phantom voters.

PETALING JAYA: Police have arrested six Klang residents over an alleged attack on a bus believed to be carrying foreigners to a voting station in Pandamaran on polling day last Sunday.

They have been released on bail and Klang MP Charles Santiago told a press conference he would be helping them defend themselves.

Santiago said he expected many more arrests over the incident, in which a large group of local residents allegedly threw objects at a bus, forced it to a stop and told the passengers to leave it.

It was reported that police eventually escorted the bus and its passengers to the Pandamaran police station.

The six men, aged between 20 and 25, are being investigated for alleged rioting under Section 148 of the Penal Code.

Police have an arrest warrant for another individual who is out of town, according to Santiago.

“As far as I know, it wasn’t a riot,” Santiago said. “The people of Malaysia were just fighting for clean and fair elections, but the police claim it was an illegal gathering.

“Police have said they are going to make 150 arrests linked to this incident. I think this is really absurd.”

Santiago accused the police of trying to instil fear in the public. He said they should instead be using their resources to reduce the crime rate around Klang.

“The OCPD has been informed of the high crime rates in Klang. They say they don’t have enough manpower, but are yet able to make these arrests within 24 hours.

“These young men did not hurt anyone. They were only protecting democracy.”

Santiago demanded that the police explain what action they had taken against the suspected phantom voters and the organiser of the bus trip.

“They have the responsibility to clarify what actions they took. They need to tell us if a police report has been made and if they have been produced in court.

“They also have to explain why those foreigners were given police protection and escorted away.”

He said he would wait 48 hours for the police to explain what they had found out about the alleged foreigners on the bus.