On Monday, residents of Kamunting in Perak were gripped by fear when a gang clash sparked off ethnic tensions, landing 16 in the hospital with two in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

While Larut Matang district police chief Raja Musa Raja Razak said the situation has returned to normal, a check by Malaysiakini and two other journalists from a Tamil daily revealed otherwise.

kamunting_clash_police_03_09060229 It was apparent that the locals are on edge and suspicious of strangers.

The three journalists also had a tough time getting the locals to provide directions to the cybercafe where the clash started.

After locating the cafe, the journalists found that the place was locked while dried blood stains were still visible on the pavement.

In the Monday night incident, the groups had clashed in front of the cafe over a dispute concerning stolen motorcycle parts. Later, in an act of retaliation, numerous bystanders were also hurt.

The police had to deploy about 100 personnel to bring the tense situation under control.

Meanwhile, the seven victims still warded at the Taiping General Hospital are under heavy police security.

kamunting_clash_02_09060229 Two police personnel have been assigned to each of the four wards, including the intensive care unit (ICU).

A light strike force jeep was seen stationed outside the entrance of Ward 14.

Raja Musa said the police roadblocks in Kamunting will continue for now.

"The police will be present in the area to ensure the safety of the public. The 16 victims admitted to the hospital have been discharged in stages.

"Now, there are only seven left, two in ICU, one in Ward D1 with the rest in Ward 14," he added.

Wrong place at the wrong time

A visit to the hospital revealed a tale of two innocent youths caught at the wrong place at the wrong time.

In Ward 14, Shamsiah Mat Nor related the ordeal endured by her son, Shahrol Ridzuan Razak, 20, on that fateful day.

Shahrol who works in a bus consortium company had a steel support inserted in his right arm which fractured due to the attack and was unable to speak as a result of a sore throat.

"Shahrol left home on Monday at 8.30pm to go to the cybercafe,” said the mother of eight.

"He had parked his motorbike at the front of the cafe and was about to go inside when he was attacked by armed men and he blocked the blow to his neck with his right arm, which fractured.

"My son ran inside the cafe but was chased by the mob and was attacked again. He had to run out of the cafe," she said, adding that the police later took him to the hospital.

kamunting_clash_09062009 She showed the wounds on her son's left arm and also the three parang slashes on his back.

Meanwhile, in Ward D1, Mohd Fadhil, 16, a form four student of SM Taman Tasik left home at 8pm to go to the cafe and was playing video games when five armed youths burst into the cafe and started attacking the patrons.

"0ne of them attacked me with a parang and I blocked the blow with my right arm, which was slashed during the attack.

"I then quickly ran inside the toilet and locked myself inside until the attackers left the cafe. I only dared to open the toilet door after hearing the voices of police officers at about 9pm," he said.

Malaysiakini learned that one of those in the ICU is a 16-year-old schoolboy who was slashed on the head and body.

The other victim in the ICU was identified as Steven Roy, 33, an administrative executive.

The two are said to be in serious condition.

Previous report

Kamunting fracas: 8 suspects nabbed, 'tensions ease'