PETALING JAYA: Dozens of fake news postings that have gone viral on social media in the midst of a dispute on the relocation of the Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam Seafield Hindu temple is not helping douse the ongoing heat of the controversy.
On Tuesday, with a heavy police presence, the situation was calm as police restricted entry into the temple premises to only devotees who wished to perform their prayers.
Curious onlookers were politely told to leave the area by police personnel to avoid a mass gathering such as a chaotic one on Monday.
However, from about 11pm onwards, about 100 youths began arriving on motorcycles and cars before grouping up and marching towards the temple, shouting religious chants.
When they were blocked by police, several of them decided to speak up saying they had come to defend the Malay race which they learnt is under threat by other races.
The police gave them several minutes to have their say before ordering them to disperse. The youths reluctantly left but regrouped at several locations nearby.
To ensure the situation did not worsen, police closed the main road to traffic and again ordered the youths to leave. When they defied the orders, policemen began carrying out arrests, nabbing nine men. Many sped past road blocks in a bid to escape.
Sources said the youths told police when questioned that they felt compelled to carry out a protest after being influenced by a number of postings they received in the social media - most which turned out to be fake.
In a separate incident at Sunway Mentari which also took place on late Tuesday night, a group of youths claimed that they were set upon by several unidentified men in an unprovoked attack.
In video footage, a youth suffered head injuries and four motorcycles belonging to the group was seen lying on its side after the attack.
The video shooter claimed that the attackers had asked them who they are before setting upon them.
Petaling Jaya police chief ACP Mohd Zani Che Din said police have received a report on the case and have classified it as rioting under Section 148 of the Penal Code.
He declined to comment further.
Police are yet to ascertain if the attack was a retaliation to the situation at the Seafield temple.
