UPDATE2 KUALA LUMPUR - As political crisis continued to grip Malaysia following shock corruption allegations that have seriously shaken Prime Minister Najib Razak's hold on power, a scuffle that took place in a downtown mall has taken on a sinister form.
Speculation is swirling that Najib's supporters might be using the incident to deflect attention from his woes.
Malay groups linked to Najib's Umno party, which had been dispersed by a police cordon formed around 9pm on Sunday returned around midnight to pick a fight outside the Low Yat Plaza.
The mall, which is located in tourist hot-spot Jalan Bukit Bintang specializes in IT, phones and electronic products.
Neither the Prime Minister nor the Tourism minister have made any comments so far.
According to The Star, a group of 50 to 60 men barged into a food outlet near the shopping mall and assaulted the patrons with motorcycle helmets at around midnight.
This led to a fierce fight between two groups.
Several people, including media personnel, were injured. A reporter from a vernacular press who was caught in the melee was also punched in the face.
Explosions heard
According to The Malaysian Insider, reporters at the scene also said that what sounded like several explosions were also heard.
Several more police patrol cars were later despatched to the area.
All shops in the area, including 24-hour convenience stores have shuttered up as one group chased the other along Jalan Bukit Bintang.
Police then ordered everyone, including media personnel to disperse, failing which, they were warned that they will be arrested.
Four Federal Reserve Units and a water canon were also deployed to Jalan Bukit Bintang. The units began sweeping the area for the trouble-makers, making several arrests.
Malay groups with Umno links including Pekida spotted
According to Malaysiakini, police had cordoned off Low Yat Plaza after about 200 people gathered in front of the building in reaction to a brawl which had occurred inside the building on Saturday.
The group of protesters, which claims to represent Malay NGOs linked to Najib's Umno party included Persatuan Kebajikan Islam dan Dakwah Islamiah (Pekida), had gathered outside the plaza at 6.30 pm.
They tried to enter the main entrance at aout 8.35pm, but were stopped from doing so.
Low Yat Plaza was shuttered down by about 9pm. Police eventually cordoned off the area with yellow tape to prevent the group from gathering.
'Ayahanda' looking for 'justice' or trouble?
According to The Star, the protesters gathered in an apparent continuation of Saturday's fiasco, where several Malay thugs had fought with the mostly Chinese sales clerks at a smartphone shop.
"We want to get proper justice," said a member of the group who identified himself as an "Ayahanda" in the national Pekida level.
"We will provide a lawyer to uphold justice," he said, adding that they were there "only to protest".
The group had gathered to protest what they claimed was "biased investigations" by the police.
At about 10pm, the situation had subsided and the crowd had dispersed.
Theft twisted by Umno groups into a racial incident
On Saturday, a fight erupted between the thugs and sales clerks after a group of youth returned to take revenge against the retailers who allegedly caught one of them shoplifting earlier on Saturday.
Some commenters on social media claimed that the brawl was due to one of the youths being sold a fake phone, but the claim has not been verified.
Police arrested four individuals on Sunday aged between 22 and 25, three of them in relation to the theft case in Low Yat Plaza on Saturday.
"Three were arrested in connection with theft," said Kuala Lumpur CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Zainuddin Ahmad.
He said one individual was arrested for provocative behaviour at a protest outside the shopping mall Sunday night.
Another four individuals will be picked up to assist in investigations. - Malaysia Chronicle
Full article: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=551512:police-cordon-off-low-yat-plaza&Itemid=2#ixzz3fj5l9cCq
Follow us: @MsiaChronicle on Twitter
Beginning of another 1969, albeit version II, or 21st century version of 1969?
ReplyDeleteWill blame which SIDE, this time?
Rumor from both sides has NOT been verified.
Will the so called ENFORCERS be impartial?
Like the PROFESSIONAL that they are supposed to be?