11 nabbed over MP’s assault
RUCKUS: Police to tighten Parliament’s security
POLICE have arrested all 11 people wanted in connection with the attempted assault on Shah Alam member of parliament Khalid Samad.
City police chief Datuk Amar Singh said 10 of them were detained in a police swoop, while a woman, who was also sought to assist investigations, surrendered herself.
“All the suspects will be detained (overnight) and (we will seek) remand orders under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code tomorrow (today).
“Police will deal firmly with anyone who creates a ruckus or disturbance at Parliament because the sanctity of the august house must be preserved.
“We have increased our personnel in Parliament to ensure incidents like this do not recur. We have also tightened security at Parliament,” he said at the Dang Wangi police headquarters yesterday.
Amar urged those who had evidence and information on the incident to come assist police investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting.
On Thursday, Khalid was set upon by an angry mob believed to be supporters of Pasir Salak MP and Deputy Agriculture and Agrobased Industries Minister Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.
They were said to have been angry at Khalid for calling Tajuddin “sial” in the Dewan Rakyat.
The police swoop came about as the suspects had failed to turn up to assist investigations into the incident despite being given an ultimatum to do so by 2pm yesterday.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, speaking earlier in the morning, had said he had told Amar to give them a chance to surrender themselves.
“I told him to give them time until this afternoon. If they don’t surrender, just arrest them. We cannot take this lightly. Rioting in Parliament is an embarrassment and should never be permitted.
“We will not let this matter be prolonged. We will give them time until this afternoon,” he said.
Asked to comment on Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed’s statement on Thursday that the attack could be construed as an act of terrorism, Khalid said the investigation should be allowed to run its course.