Saravanan to give statement to cops

Deputy minister to be called in over alleged involvement in scuffle at Tamil daily office

PETALING JAYA: Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk M. Saravanan will be asked to give his statement to police following his alleged involvement in a fracas between two groups outside the office of a Tamil daily in Kuala Lumpur.

Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Sukri Kaman said police will be calling several people, including Saravanan, in its probe into the incident.

“We have recorded statements from seve ral people and will call in others, including Saravanan,” he said yesterday.

No arrests have been made so far.

It was reported that the quarrel occurred outside the Tamil Malar office in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, on Tuesday following a news report against Saravanan who is also Federal Territory MIC liaison committee chairman.

Saravanan denied any involvement in the fracas. He claimed that he was in his office at the MIC branch nearby when he learnt about the quarrel.

“When I was there, the two groups were shoving each other and I was trying to prevent things from worsening. I did not bring anybody with me to the place,” he said on Tuesday.

He added that he had asked both sides to lodge police reports and leave the matter to the authorities.

The Tamil daily also lodged a police report over the incident.

In a twominute CCTV footage of the incident, a group of men was seen trying to force themselves through the door of the Tamil Malar office while another man inside tried to resist them.

Another man who was trying to break up the fight was shoved before more shuffling took place. Later, a woman was seen shouting at the group of men who had tried to barge into the office.