Police arrest 70 and beef up security after clashes in Kampung

Medan

Eighteen others were injured, five of them seriously, said Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Mohamed Jamil Johari.

Jamil stressed that the situation is under control and there was no reason to impose curfew.

He also said police had stepped up security with more than 400 personnel stationed at the villages and nearby housing estates.

"The people should not listen to rumours or spread them. My men have checked every rumour reported to us and all were untrue.

 

STAY AWAY... a riot policeman warning residents of Kampung Datuk Harun, near Kampung Medan, to stay away as a motorcycle burns in the background on Saturday.

"This (checking out rumours) is tying up my men when they can be better deployed to improve the security situation there,'' Jamil said at a press conference at the district police headquarters here yesterday.

"We believe that some quarters spread rumours of fights taking place, which led to a group of people showing up in the area to lend support.

"Their emotions were running high and they were too carried away with what they heard,'' he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad expressed confidence that the police would look after the safety of the people in the areas.

"It will settle down. We assure the people that the police will look after the situation and there will be no repeat of the incident,'' he said in Putrajaya.

Jamil said those arrested were residents in the area, except for five who were army personnel attached to the Sungei Besi camp.

Police also seized an assortment of weapons including parangs, knives, samurai swords, iron rods, hoes and staffs.

"The suspects are being held to assist in investigations and to help us identify others who were involved,'' he said.

Jamil said the clashes were sparked off by an incident on March 4 involving individuals from two groups who fought after a misunderstanding.

The two who died at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre yesterday were sub-contractor A. Ganesan, 29, and bellboy K. Muneiretnam, 43. They suffered serious head injuries in separate attacks between 3am and 4am.

V. Segar, 34, who was seriously injured on Friday, died at the centre on Friday.