Malay-rights activist and “red shirt” movement leader Mohd Ali “Tinju” Baharom was arrested yesterday evening and is being held on a two-day remand order for suspicion of violating the Sedition Act 1948.
The Star Online reports that Kuala Lumpur CID chief SAC Zainudding Ahmad confirmed the arrest, saying that Ali was placed under arrest at 7pm last night in the Dang Wangi police station.
Last Friday, Ali led a group of about 15 red-shirted Malay protesters to condemn and warn ethnic Chinese traders in downtown KL’s PLaza Kota Raya, after an earlier incident resulted in a Malay handphone buyer being locked up in a room and extorted for RM10,000 for four smartphones by Chinese traders.
Ali called for the Federal Government to step in and “reeducate” Chinese traders to stop them from cheating and being rude to customers.
On Sunday, a group of 20 men armed with sticks and motorcycle helmets stormed into Kota Raya to demand for refunds on behalf of allegedly defrauded Malay customers, injuring two people in the mall. The violence also led to Kota Raya closing early, with visible police presence outside the mall for the remainder of the evening.
Ali was not present at the attack on Sunday, and claimed to have been in another state. He also denied knowing anything about the violent incident, and said he did not know any of the assailants.
Following his arrest, the Armed Forces Veterans Association (PVATM), of which Ali is a member, announced that it would discuss the fate of the former army man in the association.
A high-ranking source from within the PVATM told The Malay Mail Online‘s Syed Jaymal Zahiid that the association’s grassroots members were calling for Ali to be expelled due to his controversial statements.
PVATM’s executive committee is expected to meet tomorrow to discuss Ali’s membership, after which it will forward its recommendations to the organisation’s supreme council, which has the authority to revoke memberships.
