KUALA LUMPUR: Two Perak assemblymen were among six people arrested in the city early today on suspicion of obstructing and causing hurt to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) personnel on duty.
They were held at 12.15 am after a scuffle broke out when about 10 DBKL personnel were cleaning up, removing banners and sealing off an area designated for a sit-down protest to demand the resignation of the Inspector-General of Police in Jalan Tun Perak here.
Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commisoner Zainol Samah said a scuffle broke out when the protesters tried to stop the DBKL personnel from doing their duty, resulting in one personnel being injured in the face and body.
“Two hours prior to the incident, DBKL had issued a warning to the protesters, who numbered between 40 and 50, to clean up and vacate the area, but the order was simply ignored.
“This prompted DBKL to take action but, in retaliation, some of the protesters kicked one of the personnel in the face ... and ripped off his shirt,” he told reporters here.
Zainol said the six suspects, aged between 24 and 55, were being held at the Jinjang police station lockup and would be investigated under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing public officers from doing their duty and under Section 353 of the same code for using criminal force to deter public servants from discharging their duty.
“The injured 45-year-old DBKL personnel was taken to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for treatment,” he said.
It is learnt that the sit-down protest to demand the resignation of the IGP had begun on March 20.
In another development, Zainol advised the public not to participate in an illegal rally scheduled to be held in front of the Sogo shopping complex tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Police deputy chief Datuk Law Hong Soon said police would monitor the rally tomorrow.
“Action will be taken against those who violate the law, so they better not cause any trouble and chaos to the extent of jeopardising public order,” he said. - BERNAMA