Two men's idea of a joke bombed. They are now facing a charge of criminal intimidation.

Earlier, the duo had claimed at a shopping complex that they were carrying a bag containing a bomb.

This prompted a security staff to detain them and alert the police.

However, when the police arrived and questioned the men, they admitted it was just a practical joke.

The police were not amused and arrested the duo, in their 30s, for stirring panic among the public in the incident aout 10am.

Miri police chief ACP Jamaludin Ibrahim said the police seized the bag from the suspects but it only contained clothes and a handphone charger.

"We are investigating them for criminal intimidation. Although our initial investigation found that the suspects were just joking, what they did scared the public at the (shopping) complex," he told Bernama in Miri.

- Bernama