[VIDEO] Police arrest 21yo man to aid investigations into #KerajaanGagal protest

BATU PAHAT – A video showing a large group of people protesting with flare sticks while holding a banner with the hashtag #KerajaanGagal has been making waves on Whatsapp and Facebook, resulting in the arrest of a 21-year-old man.

It is believed that citizens were expressing their discontent over the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many were not wearing masks or observing social distancing in the video.

Batu Pahat District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Ismail Dollah said his department received a call at 11.04 am yesterday about the protest.

“Subsequently, several members from the Parit Raja Police Station were dispatched to the scene and found that the banner had been taken down by the public.”

“We also received another report from members of the public who saw footage of the rally on social media and complained that the Movement Control Order (MCO) SOPs were not observed,” he said in a statement.

Ismail said initial investigations revealed that the incident took place at the Jalan Parit Raja Bridge heading towards Ayer Hitam yesterday (May 13). He added that the banner that protestors raised during the rally was the same banner that was hung on the bridge.

“We can confirm that the public made several phone calls from midnight till 1 am reporting of street gang activities in the Parit Raja area, and they were successfully dispersed.

“Preventive and enforcement measures will be enhanced in the Batu Pahat district, especially in the Parit Raja area.”

Ismail urged those who have information relating to the incident to come forward or contact the Parit Raja Police Station at 07-4541222 or the Batu Pahat District Police Headquarters (IPD) at 07-4363300.

The case will be investigated under Section 144 of the Penal Code or Section 269 of the Penal Code and Section 8 of the Explosives Act.

You can watch the video here:

Sources: YT/ Lazdrop Asia, Harian Metro

Editor: Raymond Chen
Proofreader: Sarah Yeoh