Police: Arson at wax museum may be an inside job
BY WANI MUTHIAH
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SHAH ALAM: Police are investigating if the arson attack that destroyed at least 10 exhibits at the i-City wax museum here last week was an inside job.
While the theme park’s management suspects it to be an act of sabotage, Selangor deputy police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar said police had yet to narrow down on the motive behind the fire.
“We are investigating it from all angles. It could be an inside job,” he said yesterday.
Red Carpet@i-City houses about 100 wax figurines of the world’s famous and celebrated icons.
Closed-circuit television footage showed three men, their faces covered, splashing kerosene or petrol on several wax figurines before setting them on fire during the 2.45am incident on Jan 29.
So far, no arrest has been made.
Meanwhile, i-Bhd, the master developer of i-City, said the fire had dealt a blow to tourism as it was one of Malaysia’s recommended destinations during Visit Malaysia Year 2014.
In a statement here yesterday, its information manager Tang Soke Cheng said the CCTV footage, which had been handed over to the police, indicated a high likelihood that the break-in and fire were acts of sabotage.
“Fortunately, the damage was contained as a result of the quick response by the police and the fire and rescue department,” she said.
Tang said police were investigating how the three men had broken into the guarded premises.
“Such an irresponsible act not only jeopardises the country’s image but deters tourists from visiting Malaysia,” she said.
The main exhibition area is closed to the public for reconstruction and replacement of the damaged wax exhibits. “This is expected to take two months to complete,” Tang said.
A private security company provides i-City, including the Red Carpet wax museum, security services.
The museum has relocated a number of the unaffected wax exhibits to a smaller location so that visitors could still enjoy it at RM5 per entry.
Tang said those who had bought tickets for the Chinese New Year festive period could visit the museum when it is refurbished or write in to the company for a
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