PKR leader detained over parang attack

KUALA KUBU BARU: The police have detained PKR supreme council member Badrul Hisham Shahrin and four others over a fight which erupted at a Felda settlement in Sungai Buaya this afternoon.

Badrul, known as CheguBard, had gone to the police station to file a report after claiming that he was attacked with a parang.

He claimed that the 12.30pm incident happened when he visited the polling centre in Felda Sungai Buaya.

Contacted later, Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed that the five were arrested.

“They are being detained for investigation into a fight which happened earlier. We will decide later on whether to remand or release them,” he told FMT.

According to Khalid, the five are being detained at the Kuala Kubu Baru district police headquarters here.

They are being investigated under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting.

Meanwhile, the police chief told Bernama that 32 people, three of them women, have been arrested between April 17 (nomination day) and today (polling day) in connection with various offences.

He said these people, aged between 20 and 40 years, were held at various locations because they were suspected to have attempted to spark trouble.

"Twenty-six of them, including the women, were arrested during the campaign period (until last night) and six were held today," he told reporters.

He said the 26 arrested during the campaign period were released on police bail after statements were recorded from them.

195 reports received

Khalid also said the police would investigate a report published by a news portal claiming that the police had detained phantom voters who had carried weapons to polling centres.

"I deny the report, which can cause fear in voters, and we will lodge a police report against the media and call up the reporter," he said.

Khalid said the security of the voters was assured and that the police were prepared to face any eventuality.

He also said that the police had received 195 reports on various cases and that they had investigated 35 of them so far.

Khalid said the situation was under control despite minor incidents at several places such as Sungai Buaya, Bukit Sentosa and Hulu Bernam.

"Rival party supporters provoked one another by shouting, teasing and hurling empty bottles but we have kept the situation under control.

"There was one incident of a man having been punched on the forehead at a polling centre in Sungai Buaya but we have yet to receive any report on the matter," he said.