Ruling Malaysian party official held over riot threat

By P Prem Kumar

KUALA LUMPUR

The leader of a pro-government activist group known as the Red Shirts was arrested by Malaysian police Wednesday evening over a threat to spark race riots in the country.

Police are reported to have been looking for Jamal Yunos over statements attributed to him in a Facebook post that threaten a repeat of May 13, 1969 riots should an opposition rally go ahead Nov 19.

The November rally is planned by democracy group Bersih 5, which has called for Prime Minister Najib Razak to stand down over a financial scandal at state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Bersih draws most of its support from the ethnic Chinese minority, while the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) is predominantly ethnic Malay.

Yunos, a prominent UMNO member, was arrested soon after landing at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) from Dubai.

Police chief Zainol Samah said in a short statement that he would be remanded for two days, while Yunos himself posted a message on social media saying he had been detained.

“I have been arrested at KLIA by Bukit Aman police upon arriving from overseas. I will now be taken to Dang Wangi police headquarters,” he wrote.

Samah added that Yunos would also assist investigations into a clash of protesters from the Red Shirt and rival Yellow Shirt (Bersih) faction.

Last week, two men wearing Yellow Shirts were attacked while appearing at a countrywide roadshow held to explain alleged corruption and ill-management by Razak's government.

On May 13th, 1969, hundreds of locals died in a confrontation between Malays and Chinese. Any comments thus made referring to the date to instigate fear are seen as suggesting a race war.

Red Shirts legal adviser Mohd Imran Tamrin said in a statement later Wednesday that Yunos fully cooperated with the police.

"We respect the country's laws. We will face any action taken on the Red Shirts as well as Jamal and any consequences," he said.