Although renowned for their nimble moves and deft martial art skills, two Shaolin Kung Fu masters failed to evade the long arm of the law when they were detained for allegedly selling swords.

The pair, members of a troupe from China who came here to stage martial art performances, were detained at the Putra stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, on Tuesday.

Cheras district police chief Ali Hanapiah who confirmed this today, said the duo were held when they were spotted displaying the swords and bargaining with several people.

Ali said the pair were released after Deputy Home Affairs Minister Chor Chee Hueng, who was also present, and the show organiser managed to produce documents to prove that the martial art exponents were allowed to bring in the weaponry for the performance.

No tension

The police chief also denied that the arrests had resulted in tension between the minister and him.

The only thing was that it felt like a circus because it slowly attracted a lot of people around us, he said.

Tuesday nights show  the second last of the nationwide tour  had attracted some 10,000 spectators. The tour is organised by The Star daily in co-operation with several other newspapers to raise funds for the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.

Also present at the Bukit Jalil show were Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Transport Minister Dr Ling Liong Sik, Culture, Arts, and Tourism Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh and Deputy Education Minister Hon Choon Kim.