Low Yat Plaza Ruckus

[TheHumanLeague]

Published: Monday July 13, 2015 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Monday July 13, 2015 MYT 7:52:00 AM

‘Mall melee not about race’


KUALA LUMPUR: The ruckus which broke out between thugs and sales clerks at a smartphone shop in a shopping mall here was not racial in nature, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

In a Twitter post last night, he said some suspects had been detained and efforts were being made to trace the others.

He also said the situation had been brought under control and police had intensified patrols at the place and its surrounding areas.

“Do not listen to rumours. The police will take action against those involved.

“This is nothing to do with race. Only two groups fighting,” his tweet said.

On Saturday, a fight erupted between the thugs and sales assistants after a group of youths came to the shop located in Low Yat Plaza to take revenge against the retailers who allegedly caught one of them shoplifting earlier.

Some commentators on social media claimed the brawl was due to one of the youths being sold a fake phone, but this has not been verified.

Yesterday, a group of about 100 people gathered at the plaza at 6.30pm in an apparent continuation of Saturday’s fiasco.

The group had gathered to protest what they claimed was “biased investigations” by the police.

“We want to get proper justice,” said a member of the group who identified himself as an “Ayahanda” in the national Pekida level.

Police, who were already on standby in front of the shopping mall by then, arrested a man charging out of the complex carrying a stick.

The mall was cordoned off by police at about 9pm. The situation subsided and the crowd dispersed an hour later.

Kuala Lumpur CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Zainuddin Ahmad said four people, including a 22-year-old man believed to be one of the thugs, were detained.

Police are also believed to be searching for four others said to have caused damage amounting to around RM70,000 at the handphone shop.

MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon said the public should stop spreading videos of the scuffle that could cause racial tension and spread hatred among the people.

He said there were videos from several perspectives and that the people should not pass judgment and post comments over the incident, especially if they were not at the scene at the time of the incident.

“The police need to act fast and charge those involved,” he said after opening the Perak MCA Youth annual general meeting on yesterday.

“I urge all leaders of the respective communities to calm things down,” he added.

At about midnight, a group of men attacked several members of the media who were covering the incident.

Five people were injured, including two reporters and a photographer.

The injured were treated by paramedics before being sent to the KL Hospital.

At press time, a Federal Reserve Unit team in two trucks had been deployed to the scene to control the situation.

 

[TheHumanLeague]

Published: Monday July 13, 2015 MYT 11:05:00 AM
Updated: Monday July 13, 2015 MYT 12:46:38 PM

We're not involved, says Pekida on Low Yat scuffle

by dina murad

Police speaking to the protestors outside Low Yat Plaza.

PETALING JAYA: Malay-Muslim group Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (Pekida) has denied involvement in the Low Yat Plaza brawl.

"For Pekida, even before we hold any gathering, there has to be instructions first. In this case, no instructions were given,” said a representative of the organisation on Monday.

He also said that the Low Yat Plaza incident should be left to the police to investigate.

"As of now, we have not received a report on the incident. We are currently trying to get in touch with the authorities to receive the full facts of what had happened.

"Whatever it is, the matter has been handed over to the authorities, so that they may conduct investigations.

“With correct, fair and transparent investigations, I feel that the matter can be resolved, and any racial tension and elements that may seek to disrupt unity can be avoided," he added.

On Sunday, five people were injured including several journalists in a mob attack near Low Yat Plaza after police dispersed protesters at the shopping mall.

An eyewitness said a group of 50 to 60 men barged into a food outlet near the shopping mall and assaulted the patrons with motorcycle helmets at around midnight.

Earlier in the night, a group of about 100 gathered at the Low Yat Plaza following Saturday's melee between customers and sales clerks in a smartphone shop.

Police managed to contain the situation.

 

[TheHumanLeague]

Published: Monday July 13, 2015 MYT 11:49:00 AM
Updated: Monday July 13, 2015 MYT 12:12:57 PM

Namewee: Keep calm, Low Yat melee just about thieves, thugs and cops

by michelle tam

Namewee - Screen grab from his FB video

PETALING JAYA: In a humorous black-and-white video on his Facebook page, controversial rapper Namewee has called upon fellow Malaysians to keep calm over the Low Yat Plaza melee.

“There are people saying it’s a racial issue. But to me, I only see police, thieves and gangsters in the videos. I don’t see any race,” he said in the video posted on Monday morning.

He proceeded to give examples in the clip, starting with a question about the colour of a watch.

“What colour is this? Don’t know right? But you know it’s a G-Shock yes? This lighter - what colour is this? Don’t know right? It’s a lighter lah!” said Namewee in a deadpan fashion.

Pointing to his signature beanie, he asked viewers what colour it was before stating that they did not know, and that it was just a hat.

Namewee also asked about the colour of a pair of heart-printed boxers, before stating that the only obvious fact about the clothing item is that it was “short pants”.

“So Malaysians, calm down, be patient. The issue at Low Yat is not about colour, it’s not about race. It’s about thieves, gangsters and the police.

“So everyone, be patient and let the police kaotim (settle it) lah. Say no to racism, no more fighting!” he concluded.

On Saturday, a melee erupted between thugs and sales clerks in a smartphone shop at Low Yat Plaza after a group of youths returned to take revenge against the retailers who caught them allegedly shoplifting earlier that day.

Protesters gathered at the mall Sunday night but police managed to contain the situation initially.

However, things escalated after midnight when five people, including two journalists, were injured during a mob attack near the mall after police dispersed protesters. Three people have so far been arrested over the incident.