Where did they get the grenades, asks DAP
DAP wants to know how the perpetrators behind the blast that killed one person and injured 13 people in Bukit Bintang early this morning could gain access to the explosive devices.
Describing the incident as worrying, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said it was puzzling that the perpetrators were able to get hold of the explosive despite knowing that Malaysia had strict control on firearms and explosives.
“The question is how did they get access to the explosives and why target Bukit Bintang?
"Even cases of shooting are hardly heard of in Kuala Lumpur what more an attack using a hand grenade. And it happened in an area like Bukit Bintang,” said Kok.
Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun raised his concern over the possible impact the blast could have on tourism as Bukit Bintang was a tourist hot spot.
“We don't want Kuala Lumpur to be like Haadyai or Bangkok where we can find explosives or things like hand grenade here. Police need to investigate how this weapon was brought in. I hope they can quickly solve this matter,” said Fong.
The DAP lawmaker also asked why were there no policemen stationed in the area despite having a police beat base.
"The Sun Complex area is a popular night spot. There are many night clubs and pubs there,” he said.
“This will have an impact on our country.”
It was reported that 13 people were injured early this morning when a hand grenade exploded in front of a pub along Jalan Bukit Bintang.
According to Kuala Lumpur CID chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Gan Kong Meng, car jockey Tiong Kwang Yie, 36, died in the incident.
"Police received a complaint at 4.25am and sent a despatch to the Cherry Blossom nightclub to ascertain the damage," Gan said.
"Initial reports indicated that two hand grenades had been thrown from the second floor of a building."
The injured, nine men and four women, aged between 20 and 42, have been sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital and Tung Shin Hospital for treatment.
"The injured included nationals from Thailand (1), China (2) and Singapore (2). Some of them were club patrons,” said one of the sources.
The victims have been identified as Lim Soon Hock, 51, Teoh Keow Meng, 40, Yaw Lee Hock, 41, C. Revindran, 49, and Tiong Kwang Yie.
The foreign nationals are Jasu (Thailand), Wong Kim Teng (Singapore), Ma Yunfeng and Yong Jiaqin (China). The other five victims have yet to be identified.
"Initial investigations reveal that two hand grenades were thrown but only one exploded.”
Checks revealed that the hand grenades had been issued in March 1983.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Wan Jaafar in responding to a supplementary question in Parliament today over the explosion said that police were investigating the matter and had no idea whether the suspects were local or foreigners.
“We should not assume that it was the doing of foreigners. We are also not sure what could be the motive. It could be business rivalry or fight between clubs. There are also details that I cannot reveal right now,” said Wan Junaidi.
Later, at the Parliament lobby, Wan Junaidi said there was no “black area” in Kuala Lumpur as Malaysia was a safe country and Bukit Bintang a well-known tourist destination.
"There is no such thing as a 'black area' in Kuala Lumpur and Bukit Bintang is a place where people go to enjoy themselves... which is normal in large cities." – October 9, 2014.
