KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — The Low Yat Plaza management sounded a plea to the public today not to believe or spread unverified news of the bloody brawl that took place at its premises last weekend, warning that it could create more tension in an already delicate situation.
In an official statement, the mall also sought to clear the air over the incident, confirming that the scuffle that took place on Saturday was triggered by a clear-cut theft case as previously explained by the police.
The mall also provided a brief chronology of events leading up to the melee.
“On Saturday, 11 July 2015, at about 5.40pm, a suspect was apprehended for allegedly attempting to steal a mobile phone at one of the mobile phone kiosks at Plaza Low Yat.
“This incident was caught on CCTV and the evidence has since been handed over to the police for further investigation,” the official statement read.
The management said a group of youths showed up later the same day at the mall and caused damages to a cellphone store to retaliate against the employees who had reportedly assisted in apprehending the suspected thief.
It said the incident had unfortunately opened up floodgates for “many distorted versions of news” with videos shared online on many blogs and social networking sites.
This, it added, had resulted in confusion and inaccurate conclusions being drawn about the whole incident.
“The management of Plaza Low Yat wishes to urge the public not to believe in rumours or circulate inaccurate information which may cause the situation to escalate further, and instead, allow the police to complete their investigation,” the mall officials added, also thanking the police force for its swift action in handling the situation.
The fights at Low Yat Plaza yesterday were believed to have been triggered when mall security and several handphone shop employees helped apprehend a youth for stealing a cellphone.
National news agency Bernama reported yesterday that a 22-year-old man was arrested by police in the 7.38pm incident on suspicion of theft.
However, the man was later said to have contacted his friends who reacted by returning to the same handphone store and thrashing the place, causing an estimated RM70,000 in damages.
The commotion turned into a demonstration later that same night after several messages spread on social media resulted in scores of people gathering outside the mall reportedly to demand retribution.
Several scuffles broke out after midnight outside the mall, leaving five people injured — three of them believed to be journalists.
To date, 18 people have been arrested for participating in the melee yesterday.
City police chief Datuk Tajuddin Md Isa told Malay Mail Online earlier today that the case is being probed as theft but the police are considering a new file on sedition after several groups involved in the melee flashed the race card.
