Police had arrested 32 people, three of them women, between April 17 and today in connection with various offences during the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election, Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said today.

   

He said these people, aged between 20 and 40 years, were held at various locations because they were suspected to have attempted to spark trouble.

   

NONE "Twenty-six of them, including the women, were arrested during the campaign period (until last night) and six were held today," he told reporters.

   

Khalid said the 26 arrested during the campaign period were released on police bail after statements were recorded from them.

   

Of the six held today, five were being investigated under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting, he said, adding that they were arrested at a polling centre in Sungai Buaya.

The other person was being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code for committing mischief, he said, but declined to say where the arrest took place.

   

Khalid also said the police would investigate a report published by a news portal claiming that the police had detained phantom voters who had carried weapons to polling centres.

   

"I deny the report, which can cause fear in voters, and we will lodge a police report against the media and call up the reporter," he said.

Video of rowdy scene

   

Khalid said the security of the voters was assured and that the police were prepared to face any eventuality.

   

He also said that the police had received 195 reports on various cases and that they had investigated 35 of them so far.

   

Khalid said the situation was under control despite minor incidents at several places such as Sungai Buaya, Bukit Sentosa and Hulu Bernam (see video below).

   

"Rival party supporters provoked one another by shouting, teasing and hurling empty bottles but we have kept the situation under control.

   

"There was one incident of a man having been punched on the forehead at a polling centre in Sungai Buaya but we have yet to receive any report on the matter," he said.

   

- Bernama

VIDEO l 2.28 min