Police will act against kampung people who attacked a police station in Teluk Bahang due to dissastisfaction over an operation against mat rempit (illegal racers).

Director of Internal Security and Public Order Department Salleh Mat Rasid said action will be taken against those who violated the law, including police officers, as no one is above the law.

“The public must not take the law into their own hands but should make a  report to the police station chief,” he told reporters after attending the ‘High Profile Policing Programme’ at Pasar Awam, Sungai Ara in George Town today.

In the incident on Saturday, a group of over 100 people three stones at the police station to protest police action and demand an explanation.

Salleh said police have not made any arrests but an investigation into the incident is progressing well.

“The investigation is focused on three aspects: the accident involving the victims, rioting by kampung people and throwing of helmet by a police officer.”

Initial investigation found that group of people who attacked the police station did not have any weapons.

“We have had discussions with the kampung people to facilitate investigation into the case,” he added.

In the incident at 11pm, a police officer is alleged to have thrown a helmet at a group of mat rempit, causing five of them to fall from their machines.

Two of them were seriously hurt and were reported to be in stable condition at Penang Hospital.

‘Discuss with the police station chief’

In KUALA LUMPUR, Ex-Policemen’s Association Malaysia president Shafie Bakri said attacking a police station is a serious offence and could harm policemen on duty.

“Kampung people dissatisfied with police action can resolve the matter by discussing the matter with the police station chief or district police chief,” he told Bernama today.

Shafie said if the allegations were true, the kampung people should lodge a police report on police misconduct instead of attacking the police station.

“Malaysians who are known for their good manners must first investigate what happened and not believe in rumours as they maybe untrue.

“We can’t blame the police who were mounting an operation against mat rempit. Parents should know what their children do outside the house,” he added.

Meanwhile, deputy inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar when contacted, confirmed the incident but declined comment.

- Bernama