EIGHT local men have been detained in connection with a confrontation that erupted during a police operation at a residential flat along Jalan Sungai in George Town, resulting in injuries to several officers.
North-East district police chief Abdul Rozak Muhammad said the incident occurred at about 9.50pm on Wednesday after the district control centre received a request for assistance from officers encountering difficulties while carrying out enforcement duties.
Responding personnel found four officers in pursuit of a suspicious individual who had fled into the flat compound before a dispute broke out involving several members of the public.
“Three of the four police officers involved sustained minor injuries during the scuffle,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
Police subsequently arrested eight Malaysian men, aged between 28 and 38, to assist in investigations.
The suspects were brought before the George Town court complex on Thursday morning, where a three-day remand order was obtained until 28 March.
Authorities are investigating the case under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting and Section 353 for using criminal force or intimidation to obstruct public servants in the discharge of their duties.
Abdul Rozak also urged the public to refrain from circulating videos of the incident or engaging in speculation on social media, warning that such actions could cause unnecessary alarm and interfere with ongoing investigations.
The case has underscored concerns over public interference during enforcement operations, with police reiterating the importance of allowing officers to carry out their duties without obstruction. -March 26, 2026
