Ali Tinju nabbed over Kota Raya protest

(Malay Mail Online) – Army veteran Mohd Ali Baharom was arrested today over remarks he made at the Kota Raya mall last week prior to a melee that left two people injured.

According to a report by the Star Online news portal, Ali’s arrest was confirmed by Kuala Lumpur CID chief SAC Datuk Zainuddin Ahmad.

It is understood that he was detained under the Sedition Act 1948.

Earlier this evening, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak warned the public against vigilante action over cases of alleged fraud, saying such matters should be left to the proper authorities.

Last week, the former soldier who is also known as “Ali Tinju” held a protest outside the mall over the matter, calling for a boycott and demanding that Putrajaya conduct training for Chinese handphone traders to stop them from cheating consumers.

Yesterday, The Star Online reported that a brawl broke out at the mall at around 5pm when some 20 men armed with sticks and helmets stormed a handphone shop to seek refunds over an alleged cheating case, and got into an argument with the workers that turned violent.

The ensuing altercation that left two people injured was reminiscent of a similar incident at Low Yat Plaza in July that saw several individuals hurt after racially-charged riots broke out over another alleged handphone cheating case.

Ali Tinju had been charged with sedition over his role in the Low Yat Plaza incident, although the Attorney-General’s Chambers later discontinued the prosecution.