KUALA LUMPUR - Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar debunked rumours today that a group of NGOs led by Papagomo will stage a mass rally outside Low Yat Plaza this weekend, pointing out that the controversial blogger is currently still under remand.
On Facebook last night, the administrator of the account named “Papagomo Original” claimed that 12 NGOs including Persatuan Kebajikan Islam dan Dakwah Islamiah (Pekida) and Perkasa have agreed to gather at the popular tech mall on Saturday to protest the alleged inaction by the police over the recent brawl.
Khalid, however, urged the public not to worry about the post as Papagomo, whose real name is Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, is still safely behind bars.
The post, he added, were likely done by his followers to rile the public up.
“Don’t worry, that is fake account. Someone else is posting that. Papagomo is still in lock up,” he told Malay Mail Online when contacted today.
The police chief added that the authorities were keeping close watch on the developments of the issue and gave his assurance that it would not lead into a full blown rally incited by racial tension.
“We will monitor it and keep tabs, there won’t be anything that happens from it. We will make sure,” Khalid said.
In the Facebook posting, the group also flayed the IGP for allegedly siding the Chinese in the incident that they claim to be racially motivated. They also chided the authorities remanding Papagomo.
Meanwhile, Perkasa vice-president Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman also said the NGO was clueless on the rally, adding that the Malay rights group would not likely take part in any such event, even if it turns into a riot.
“I don’t think so that Perkasa will join. As far as I know, we don’t have any information on that or if it will be happening,” he told Malay Mail Online today.
Abdul Rashid added that parties should not be so quick to “jump the gun” and instead “let the police investigate” as they will be able to obtain the relevant information on what actually happened during the incident last week.
Pekida also said it was in the dark about the alleged gathering this weekend, which falls on the 2nd day of the Hari Raya celebrations. The NGO’s information chief Syahrir Abdul Aziz also claimed that the group had nothing to with it.
“No, no, I don’t know anything about that. We have nothing to do with it (rally),” he told Malay Mail Online today.
Papagomo
On Wednesday, Khalid disclosed that Papagomo was arrested for spreading false information online regarding last Sunday’s bloody brawl at Low Yat Plaza. To date, a total of 24 people, including Papagomo, have been arrested over the riot that saw five people injured, including three journalists from Chinese media organisations.
The riot reportedly started after 22-year-old Shahrul Anuar Abdul Aziz was handed over on Saturday to the police for allegedly stealing an RM800 phone from a store at the popular tech mall.
Rumours swirled on social media after the alleged theft that the Chinese trader had sold the Malay man a counterfeit phone, leading to calls to boycott the “cheating” Chinese traders and the complex itself.
Shahrul on Monday pleaded not guilty at a Magistrate’s Court to the offence punishable under Section 380 of the Penal Code.
If convicted, he faces a maximum 10-year jail term and a fine, with subsequent offences punishable by imprisonment and fine or whipping. - Malay Mail
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