IGP'S DOUBLE STANDARDS: Video evidence cops stood by as racist insults hurled outside Low Yat - DAP

DAP has accused the police of inaction as racist remarks and provocative statements were hurled outside the Low Yat Plaza in Kuala Lumpur last night, which saw 5 people injured when groups clashed over alleged theft of a handphone.

DAP acting chairman Tan Kok Wai said it was unacceptable that people were allowed to make racial remarks without any interference by the authorities.

"We saw people making speeches, hurling abuses, stirring up emotions, making remarks that could incite racial hatred, these people were allowed to speak for a comfortable length of time at the scene without interference of the police.

"We were told that when the crowd dispersed at about 10pm, more or less the same group came back and started assaulting innocent people... the police were not there to stop them from acting in such manner.

"We don't know why only after some people were assaulted, some cars were broken and people were threathened, then we saw the presence of police," he told a press conference at the DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

Tan urged Malaysians to be united and patient and not to be distracted from other national issues affecting the country.

DAP acting chairman Tan Kok Wai speaks to reporters at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. Tan criticised police for inaction after scores of youths were involved in violence following claims of theft at a mobile phone shop

"People have been hurling racist remarks in the video, this thing should not be allowed to happen.

"We want to call upon the government to ensure there shall be no recurrence of such a ruckus, not only at Low Yat Plaza or Bukit Bintang, but all over Malaysia," he said.

On Saturday, youths trashed a store at the mall over the alleged theft of a mobile phone by a customer, who was caught and handed over to police by storekeepers.

The incident has been racialised by some people on social media as the youths were Malay and the shopkeepers Chinese.

The melee on Saturday resulted in reported losses of RM70,000 after the youths trashed the store in revenge for the arrest of their friend over the alleged theft.

Last night, about 200 people gathered at Low Yat Plaza purportedly to seek revenge again despite police cordoning off the area, resulting in midnight brawls and fistfights which injured 5 people. – TMI