Ceramah and political gatherings called off for time being

Selangor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Nik Ismail Nik Yusoff said one man was arrested at 1.30am in Taman Datuk Harun and the second one at 3am in Sungai Way.

It is learnt that the two had spread rumours that some gangs were arming themselves and were looking for a fight.

Also arrested yesterday were three Malays and two Indians for possessing weapons, bringing the total number of those detained to 190 since Thursday.

 

TAMAN MEDAN HOTSPOTS: A - Kampung Lindungan, B - Kampung Gandhi, C - Taman Datuk Harun, D - Medan Maju Jaya.

Police seized several parangs and pieces of wood with nails from those arrested.

"We have also identified a few others involved in rumour-mongering and expect to arrest them soon,'' DCP Nik Ismail said at the daily press briefing.

"We also remanded another 35 people on Tuesday,'' he said, adding that no fresh fights or clashes were reported over the past 24 hours.

On the fire which damaged three houses in PJS 2C/10 on Monday night, DCP Nik Ismail said investigations showed that the fire was caused by a short-circuit and there was no element of sabotage.

Later, after visiting those admitted at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, he announced that the police would not allow political ceramah and public gatherings in the state for the time being.

"We have decided to implement this measure to defuse the tension that followed the clashes in the Kampung Medan areas,'' he added.

Later, after attending a bricklaying ceremony for a new police beat, DCP Nik Ismail said he would lodge a report against the opposition parties for alleging that the death toll was higher than the six reported.

He also hit out at the foreign press for their distorted reports that gave the impression that the police did not provide protection to the Indian community.

"While the majority of police is Malays, we are very professional and carry out our duties without fear or favour,'' he said.