MUHYIDDIN REVEALS SHOCK DETAILS ‘SUPPRESSED’ DURING 2-DAY TEMPLE RIOT: OVER 10,000 & NOT ONE THOUSAND SUPPORTERS RUSHED TO SCENE TO PROTECT TEMPLE ON NIGHT OF 2ND RIOT, 30 MEN ARRESTED – 24 MALAYS, 2 INDIAN MUSLIMS, 3 INDIANS & ONE CHINESE

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today made a ministerial statement to the Dewan Rakyat, shedding light on the sequence of events at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple on Monday and Tuesday.

On the first day, the developer attempted to enforce the temple’s relocation by hiring men to secure the building, resulting in clashes and subsequent rioting.

The second round of rioting took place on Tuesday, where a Fire and Rescue Department personnel was allegedly attacked and seriously injured.

Muhyiddin also provided details on the investigations, including the arrests to date as well as weapons seized from the incidences.

“So far, statements have been taken from 34 people and a large amount of physical evidence has been seized at the location, namely 21 cars and six motorcycles which were set on fire, nine knives and two machetes, seven pairs of shoes and three vests.

“The police have also arrested 30 individuals, comprising 24 Malays, two Indian Muslims, three Indians and one Chinese, and all have been remanded for various durations, while five individuals who were arrested last night were remanded today,” he said.

The following is the chronology provided by the minister.

Nov 26

2.40am – Subang Jaya district police headquarters receive complaints of disturbances at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple. All units ordered to the site.

2.50am – Four police multi-purpose vehicle arrive at the temple but were prevented from entering. A parked tanker was blocking entry into the temple. One of the police vehicle’s rear windscreen was smashed.

3.30am – Subang Jaya district police chief calls for back up from the Federal Reserve unit and Serdang district police headquarters.

4am – 99 officers from Serdang district police headquarters arrive at the scene.

While police backup was on the way, fights between hired men and devotees in the temple had broke out. Some of the hired men then fled the scene. The devotees then torched what they believed were the hired men’s vehicles.

4.38am – The Fire and Rescue Department receives a call about the fire from the torching and arrives 25 minutes later.

5.30am – The Federal Reserve Unit comprising two officers and 201 personnel arrives. The situation was brought under control. Three hired men, three devotees and a police personnel were injured.

Nov 27

Some 10,000 supporters gathered around the temple. Some within the group started rioting and torched vehicles.

Fire and Rescue Department personnel tried to put out the fire but were attacked. One personnel, Mohammad Adib Mohammad Kassim, was beaten up.

Some rioters also attacked MCT Tower, where One City Development Sdn Bhd’s office was located.

MKINI