GEORGETOWN, Jul 13 – Fresh fights broke out after midnight outside Low Yat Plaza here that reportedly left five people injured three of them believed to be journalists. A group of about 200 people believed to have been led by Malay-Muslim group Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Islamiah Se-Malaysia gathered outside Low Yat Plaza at around 7pm for an apparent continuation of Saturday’s fiasco.
About 20 to 30 police officers which including plain-clothes policemen who were deployed at the scene to monitor the situation and managed to prevent them from entering the Plaza. Meanwhile, Low Yat Plaza was shuttered by about 9pm. The crowd regrouped at 12am and tensions were reignited outside the Plaza just after midnight when a huge fight broke out between two groups.
With a group of 50 to 60 men storming into a food outlet near the mall and beating up the patrons with motorcycle helmets around midnight. Among those believed have been targeted media photographer. A journalist who tried to protect the photographer was also beaten up.
At about 1am, there were two riot police vehicles were deployed to the scene and added that sounds of explosions were heard at the area. Besides that, a 22-year-old suspect who took away a smartphone from the OPPO store at Low Yat Plaza without paying and arrested by public members. Police was still in investigate which acquired the CCTV record. The record was showed that the man was discussing with the sales representative before he took the phone and walked away.
Lastly, the five were reported injured, with three said to be media personnel including a photographer and a journalist who attempted to protect the cameraman from the mob. Media personnel who were injurt are believe from Kwong Wah Yit Poh, Feng Jian, another one from China Daily Photographer, Cenjia Hao and another from Sin Chew Daily Correspondent call Chen Wei Lun.
