Cops escort MP out of lockdown area after 'altercation' with deputy minister
UPDATED 5.40PM | The police escorted Batu MP P Prabakaran out of the Taman Sri Murni area in Selayang, which has been placed under an enhanced movement control order (MCO).
Prabakaran told Malaysiakini he was being taken to the Sentul district police headquarters.
- UPDATED 10PM | Added Edmond's announcement of a press conference tomorrow to address the claims.
The police escorted Batu MP P Prabakaran out of the Taman Sri Murni area in Selayang, which has been placed under an enhanced movement control order (MCO).
Prabakaran told Malaysiakini he was being taken to the Sentul district police headquarters.
Speaking to Malaysiakini, the MP claimed the incident happened after an “argument” with Federal Territories Deputy Minister Edmund Santhara.
"I went into the area with police permission to do my job as a parliamentarian. When I was inside, I went to the command centre where Edmund was.
"I asked the deputy minister to consider having the Welfare Department on standby to assist the people, who had been complaining that they did not have enough food.
"But he asked me to leave," he claimed, adding this led to an exchange of words between them.
When he left the command centre, Prabakaran said the police asked him to follow them to the district police headquarters.
However, it is unclear if the MP has been detained.
Aide: Prabakaran is lying
Contacted later, Sentul police chief S Shamugamoorthy said he was in a meeting and has not been briefed on the matter.
Meanwhile, Edmund's private secretary R Dineshwaran denied the deputy minister was rude towards the MP or that there was an argument.
According to him, Prabakaran had entered the room when Santhara was chairing a meeting with the police and health authorities on matters related to the MCO.
"YB (Santhara) had told him politely to wait until the meeting ended to discuss whatever matters he has," he said.
"He lied," Dineshwaran added in reference to Prabakaran's version of what transpired.
In a response later, Edmund said he would hold a press conference tomorrow (Tuesday) to address all the allegations.
He also reiterated what his secretary said, that Prabakaran had allegedly entered the meeting room uninvited.
"We respect all MPs including from the opposition. But, one cannot simply enter a meeting or disrupt an ongoing meeting.
"I only asked him to wait outside, until I finish with the meeting," he said.
Edmund also alleged that Prabakaran had raised his voice during the incident, including to Kuala Lumpur police chief Mazlan Lazim, who was one of the officers who attended the meeting.
Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that residential areas in the vicinity of the Kuala Lumpur wholesale market have been placed under the enhanced MCO.
Barbed wires have been placed from the entrance of the wholesale market near the Batu Caves temple roundabout up to the Sri Murni apartments.
Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob later confirmed that eight parcels have been affected and that the enhanced MCO will continue until May 3.
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