The service centre of Bukit Bendera parliamentarian Zairil Khir Johari in Pulau Tikus, Penang was cordoned off by police last night after a suspicious looking travel bag was found in a field nearby.
Penang municipal councillor Chris Lee Chun Kit said he was alerted of the matter at 8pm last night by Pulau Tikus assemblyperson Yap Soo Huey, who received an email from a stranger notifying her about the bag.
"I went to the area immediately and found the yellow travel bag with rollers standing alone on the field in front of Zairil's service centre," Chris toldMalaysiakini when contacted.
"I felt it was probably nothing but thought that it was strange that someone would leave the bag like that. So as a precaution, I called the police," he added.
Chris said several police officers from the nearby Pulau Tikus police station came by immediately to investigate.
He added that the police decided to call in the bomb squad in case the bag contained explosives.
"The bomb squad followed their standard operating procedure carefully. After cordoning off the area, they sounded the siren and then shot the bag to see if there were explosives," Chris explained.
"The squad later found nothing in the bag and everything was over by 11pm. I then lodged a police report on the matter," added the Bukit Bendera DAP Socialist Youth chief.
Zairil, who is also Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's political secretary, is currently on a working trip in Edinburgh, Scotland meeting Malaysian students there.
When contacted via Whatsapp, Zairil said he was relieved that the incident turned out to be nothing.
"It was probably a hoax. I am not sure of the intent of the individual or individuals who left the bag there as it did not contain anything," said Zairil, who is also state DAP vice-chief.
"It may be something really innocent but I thank the police for their quick response. They came within minutes," added the party's assistant publicity secretary.
‘These are dark times’
Asked his next course of action when he returns to Penang on Thursday, Zairil (right) said "everyone has to be extra vigilant these days about their safety as these are dark times".
Penang has seen several violent and threatening attacks recently, starting with two Molotov cocktails hurled into the compound of the 229-year-old Assumption Church in the wee hours of the morning along Farquhar Street on Jan 26.
On Feb 8, fireworks were thrown into the compound of the Bukit Tengah police station, shattering its windows and damaging the ceiling of the front porch.
A week later, a piece of pork meat was found outside the entrance of the Tokun Atas mosque in Cherok Tokun, in an apparent attempt by unidentified individuals to incite religious tension in the opposition-led state.
Penang police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi said his team was still investigating the incidents, and so far no suspects have been arrested.
Penang municipal councillor Chris Lee Chun Kit said he was alerted of the matter at 8pm last night by Pulau Tikus assemblyperson Yap Soo Huey, who received an email from a stranger notifying her about the bag.
"I went to the area immediately and found the yellow travel bag with rollers standing alone on the field in front of Zairil's service centre," Chris toldMalaysiakini when contacted."I felt it was probably nothing but thought that it was strange that someone would leave the bag like that. So as a precaution, I called the police," he added.
Chris said several police officers from the nearby Pulau Tikus police station came by immediately to investigate.
He added that the police decided to call in the bomb squad in case the bag contained explosives.
"The bomb squad followed their standard operating procedure carefully. After cordoning off the area, they sounded the siren and then shot the bag to see if there were explosives," Chris explained.
"The squad later found nothing in the bag and everything was over by 11pm. I then lodged a police report on the matter," added the Bukit Bendera DAP Socialist Youth chief.Zairil, who is also Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's political secretary, is currently on a working trip in Edinburgh, Scotland meeting Malaysian students there.
When contacted via Whatsapp, Zairil said he was relieved that the incident turned out to be nothing.
"It was probably a hoax. I am not sure of the intent of the individual or individuals who left the bag there as it did not contain anything," said Zairil, who is also state DAP vice-chief.
"It may be something really innocent but I thank the police for their quick response. They came within minutes," added the party's assistant publicity secretary.
‘These are dark times’
Asked his next course of action when he returns to Penang on Thursday, Zairil (right) said "everyone has to be extra vigilant these days about their safety as these are dark times".Penang has seen several violent and threatening attacks recently, starting with two Molotov cocktails hurled into the compound of the 229-year-old Assumption Church in the wee hours of the morning along Farquhar Street on Jan 26.
On Feb 8, fireworks were thrown into the compound of the Bukit Tengah police station, shattering its windows and damaging the ceiling of the front porch.
A week later, a piece of pork meat was found outside the entrance of the Tokun Atas mosque in Cherok Tokun, in an apparent attempt by unidentified individuals to incite religious tension in the opposition-led state.
Penang police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi said his team was still investigating the incidents, and so far no suspects have been arrested.
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