The Kluang Municipal Council (MPK) had confiscated banners and flags surrounding a venue where Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Muhyiddin Yassin is scheduled to give a talk later tonight.

However, the items comprising two banners and 65 flags which were seized at 2am,were returned to the organiser at 11am, who has put them back up.

According to a police report lodged by Kluang Bersatu coordinator Radzali Mohd Noor soon after the seizure, an MPK official had claimed that the items were removed because Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim was slated to pass through the venue, and might not be pleased to see the banners and flags.

A video recording on the confiscation, posted on Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong's Facebook page, showed opposition supporters arguing with MPK officials.

At one point, a MPK official appeared to nod when asked if the consfication was related to the crown prince passing through the area.

Contacted later, MPK secretary Mohd Radif Kosnin refused to comment on the matter.

Malaysiakini was informed that Tunku Ismail does not have any public appearance scheduled in Kluang, though it is not certain whether he has a private function or unofficial visits to the area.

Apart from Muhyiddin, the ceramah would also feature Liew, who is also Johor DAP chief, Johor PKR chief Hassan Karim and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) deputy president Salahuddin Ayub.

Titled “A talk with people forum”, the event would be held at the Kluang DAP Community Centre at 8.30pm.

Meanwhile, in his police report, Radzali said MPK officials had initially requested the organiser to voluntarily remove the banners and flags at 10.30pm last night.

“They claimed they received an order from the MPK chairperson, who asked that the flags to be taken down as the Johor crown prince will pass by the area.

“They claimed that the prince may be displeased to see the material, but as far as we know, the prince has an open mind and loves the rakyat," he said.

He further claimed that the enforcement officers failed to show a written copy of the order despite the organiser requesting for it.

Radzali related that at 2.30am, a MPK enforcement team led by an officer confiscated all the items without providing room for negotiation, though he promised to give copy of the order later.

In his police report, Radzali also called for all the confiscated assets to be returned and warned all quarters against using the crown prince's name to justify their actions.