Singapore riot: Malaysian detained over possible involvement, says Wisma Putra
A police car (L) flipped on it side on fire after rioters went on a rampage in Singapore's Little India district late on December 8. Hundreds of South Asian workers rioted in Singapore late on December 8 after being enraged by a fatal road accident, leaving 18 people injured and police vehicles burnt in the city-state's worst outbreak of violence in more than 40 years. - AFP
PETALING JAYA: A Malaysian national has been detained for investigation over possible involvement in Sunday night's riot in Singapore's Little India.
A statement Tuesday from the Foreign Ministry said it was informed of this by the High Commission of Malaysia in Singapore.
It added that mission has also been informed "unofficially" by the Singapore Police Command Post that five auxiliary police personnel, who are Malaysians with permanent resident status in the island state, suffered minor injuries while assisting Singapore police in handling the riot.
"The five Malaysians are working with three major security firms employed by the government of Singapore to assist the Singapore police in its operation," the Wisma Putra statement said.
The High Commission, it added, will render the necessary consular assistance to the affected Malaysians in coordination with the authorities of Singapore.
The ministry also stressed that it has frequently reminded Malaysians visiting, working or residing overseas to respect the laws of their host countries just as Malaysians expected foreigners residing here to abide by the nation's laws.
It was reported that 27 South Asian men were arrested over the riot, which was triggered when an Indian worker was run over and killed by a private bus at the junction of Race Course Road and Hampshire Road.
According to Singapore's Straits Times, of those detained, 24 were Indian nationals, two were Bangladeshi nationals and one a Singaporean permanent resident.
THE STAR
Y
A man walks past an ambulance damaged in a riot in Singapore’s Little India district December 9, 2013. — Reuters picKUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 — Five Malaysians were among the 27 people injured during riots in Singapore’s “Little India” on Sunday night, according to Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.
But Khalid added that none of the five were badly hurt in the rare outbreak of violence in the island state, saying they required only outpatient care.
“It is true, they are Malaysians who were employed as security officers in Singapore,” he was quoted as saying last night in a Berita Harian report today.
Other than the five Malaysians, 22 Singaporean police officers were also reportedly injured after they were attacked by the rioting South Asian nationals. All have since been discharged from the hospital.
The riot erupted late Sunday in tightly-controlled Singapore’s congested Little India district after a 33-year-old Indian worker, Sakthivel Kumaravelu, was run over by a private bus, according to an AFP report.
Police said about 400 people were involved in the rare outbreak of public disorder, adding that 28 South Asian workers had been arrested on charges of rioting, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison as well as caning.
IN THE GALLERY
Officials stand around a bus with a smashed windshield following a riot in Singapore’s Little India district, December 9, 2013. — Reuters pic
At least five vehicles including three police cars were torched in the violence. The situation was brought under control after elite police commandos arrived at the scene.
Previously, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Singapore Datuk Md Hussin Nayan said he received unconfirmed information that one of the 28 rioters arrested is believed to be a Malaysian.
“So far, only one man believed Malaysians said to hold, but we do not have confirmation from the Singapore government,” he said.
Rioting in Singapore is punishable by up to seven years in prison plus caning.
To Watch The Video Of the Riot Click On This Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUrqYFjP7IY
