The clash between armed groups at Taman Lindungan which resulted in one killed and 12 injured last night was an isolated incident resulting from 'pent-up tension' between people, Selangor police chief Nik Ismail said today.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the scene at Jalan Kelang Lama, Petaling Jaya, this afternoon, he said the incident was not a racial confrontation.

"We appeal to all the residents here to remain calm," he said.

He said police have placed two truckloads of Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel to keep watch on the area and prevent further clashes from erupting.

In the incident at about 7pm last night, a group of Indian youths attacked a Malay family at their house. The motive for the attack is not known and neither is it known whether the attackers were residents of the area.

The attack sparked off retaliatory attacks by other armed groups forcing police to summon the FRU to restore order.

Not racial

According to youths in the area interviewed by malaysiakini , violence in the settlement, made up of Indian and Malay squatters, was not due to racial sentiments.

"We have seen many incidents in which people get slashed for no reason. Most of the time, the attackers are either drunk or involved in gangsterism," said one resident.

However, Taman Medan state assemblywoman Norkhaila Jamaluddin of Umno said that the Malays in the area have "long been patient although the Indians have attacked us again and again".

"Every three or four months, we hear of incidents such as these. We (the Malays) have long been patient and many have been terkorban ," said Norkhaila explaining that terkorban meant 'ending up as the victims'.