Batu MP P Prabakaran was released on police bail around 10pm yesterday, after being detained over a reportedly heated exchange with Federal Territories Deputy Minister Edmund Santhara.
In a Facebook live video shortly after his release, Prabakaran (photo, above) said he had followed the standard operating procedures for lawmakers carrying out their duties during the movement control order (MCO) period, and that he had kept police informed of his movements.
He said he visited the Taman Sri Murni area in Selayang, which is now under Enhanced MCO, to check on the residents, many of whom complained that they had not yet received aid from the Social Welfare Department.
"I was not trying to be a hero, Superman or Spiderman. I just wanted to do my job as an MP," he said.
He said during his visit, he learned that Edmund was having a meeting at a war room next to the Selayang wholesale market and he decided to pop by to have a discussion with the deputy minister.
According to Edmund (photo, below) and his aide, this is when the heated exchange occurred, after Prabakaran entered the meeting uninvited and was told to wait until after the meeting.
Prabakaran said he was not allowed into the meeting, but denied he was upset about it.
"I was not disappointed or upset. I know I'm an opposition MP," he said.
He said he waited for the meeting to end before deciding to go back to Taman Sri Murni, where he had discussions with police Special Branch officers and Health Ministry officers.
After that, he decided to visit the war room again.
"I wanted to meet the deputy minister to give some ideas about how to help the residents. I know the issues regarding the wholesale market (and its traders). You can say that I'm an expert," Prabakaran said, adding that traders often call him to air their grievances.
When he arrived at the war room, he said police allowed him to enter. There he found Edmund was holding a press conference.
'Deputy minister did not cooperate with me'
Prabakaran said he waited quietly for the presser to end, after which he went up to the deputy minister.
"But the deputy minister did not cooperate with me, did not accept my grievances.
"I don't know why. Maybe he was too stressed from the MCO. They asked me to leave the war room," he said.
He said he complied, and this time, he was upset.
"If I as an MP am not treated well, what about the regular people?" he said.
He wanted to do a Facebook live video outside the war room but was told he could not record there, and hence left to do it somewhere else.
Later, as he was doing his live video elsewhere, police approached him saying Edmund wanted to meet.
The Batu MP complied and drove back to the war room, only to be told by police that they had received instruction to take him to the Sentul police district headquarters.
Prabakaran said he was there for about four to five hours and had his statement taken.
Edmund said he would be holding a press conference today to address the matter.
Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that residential areas in the vicinity of the Selayang wholesale market (photo, above) have been placed under the Enhanced MCO.
Barbed wires have been placed from the entrance of the wholesale market near the Batu Caves temple roundabout up to the Sri Murni apartments.
Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob later confirmed that eight parcels have been affected and that the Enhanced MCO will continue until May 3. - Mkini
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