UMNO ACTIVIST ARRESTED FOR SEDITION AFTER RACIAL SPEECH OUTSIDE LOW YAT PLAZA

Malaysian police confirmed today that they arrested Armed Forces Veterans Association President Mohd Ali Baharom, better known as Ali Tinju, for a racially-charged speech outside Low Yat Plaza. His speech is blamed for sparking off the riots that led to Sunday's violence outside of the popular IT mall in Kuala Lumpur.

City chief police officer (CPO) Datuk Tajuddin Md Isa said Mohd Ali was arrested yesterday morning and that his case would be handled by Bukit Aman police.

Yesterday, a viral video showing a man - believed to be Mohd Ali - addressing a group of people gathered in front of Low Yat Plaza spread like wildfire through Malaysian social media.

In the video, Mohd Ali told the crowd to seek justice and uphold the dignity of Malay youths. He declared that Malaysia had to be “bumi Melayu” or Malay land, and that the Malays must be united to stand against “rude DAP Chinese”.

Malaysian police confirmed that Mohd Ali is being investigated under the Sedition Act.

Malaysian media outlet Bernama reported that a 22-year-old man, who is believed to be the person involved in the theft at Low Yat Plaza, was also arrested by police on Saturday. The man’s friends reportedly reacted by returning to the same handphone store the same night and thrashing the place, causing an estimated RM70,000 in damages.

The commotion turned into a demonstration on Sunday night after several messages spread on social media resulted in scores of people gathering outside the mall reportedly to demand retribution for injustices against the Malay youth.

Several scuffles broke out after midnight outside the mall, leaving several people injured — with three of them being journalists.

To date, 19 people have been arrested for participating in the melee.