Raub MP, Samka chairperson arrested for 'obstructing public servants'

Summary

• Raub MP Chow Yu Hui and Samka chairperson Wilson Chang were arrested under Section 186 of the Penal Code for allegedly obstructing public servants during a durian farm enforcement in Raub.

• Pahang police chief Yahaya Othman confirmed the arrests, describing the incident last Thursday as a misunderstanding over actions against unlicenced durian farms.

• The arrest followed reports that Chow and about 50 supporters had blocked enforcement officers during the operation.

Raub MP Chow Yu Hui and Save Musang King Alliance (Samka) chairperson Wilson Chang have been arrested today.

An aide to Chow (above) said the arrests were made under Section 186 of the Penal Code for allegedly obstructing public servants from performing their duties.

The duo was arrested at 4pm as they went to the Raub district police headquarters to have their statement recorded.

“Any updates will be posted to Facebook and informed to the media as soon as possible,” the aide said.

When contacted, Pahang police chief Yahaya Othman in a text message confirmed the arrests.

In a statement issued later, he said the arrests were made following a report lodged by the Phang State Enforcement Unit chief last Thursday.

The report alleged that while the chief and his team were leaving an operations area at 10.15am, they were blocked by about 50 Samka supporters, including Chow and Chang, who had gathered in the middle of a road leading out of the area.

“The incident is believed to have arisen from a misunderstanding regarding enforcement actions against unlicenced durian tree farms in Raub,” Yahaya said.

He reminded members of the public to refrain from interfering with the duties of public servants.

Yesterday, Raub district police chief Shahril Abd Rahman said Chow and four others will be summoned to assist in investigations into the case of obstructing public servants from discharging their duties during a recent enforcement operation at a durian farm in Raub.

Shahril said Chow, who is also Samka’s adviser, would be called in to assist with investigations under Section 186 of the Penal Code, based on three police reports related to the operation.

Last week, the durian farmers clashed with state government personnel while the latter were clearing Musang King trees on disputed land near Sungai Klau.

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