POLICE have admitted they only received information hours after a large-scale attack by masked individuals on an entertainment outlet in Cheras, raising concerns over delayed reporting in serious criminal incidents.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus said the incident, which involved at least 60 assailants wearing face masks, occurred at 1.30pm on Sunday at a karaoke (KTV) centre in Taman Shamelin.
However, authorities were only alerted at 7.30pm the same day.
He described the incident as a major and serious case involving rioting and vandalism allegedly carried out by members of an organised crime group.
“I wish to stress that this is a serious and major incident, yet the police report regarding a group of individuals trespassing and committing acts of mischief at an entertainment centre in Cheras was only lodged at 7.30pm.
“I find that the information received by the police was indeed delayed, and there was no early intelligence channelled to us, nor was any public information shared with us,” he said at a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters on Wednesday.
Fadil acknowledged that the delayed flow of information had affected the speed of police response, adding that improving this aspect would be a key priority moving forward.
“Therefore, the issue of delayed response needs to be improved and will be a primary focus for Kuala Lumpur police in the future,” he said.
He urged members of the public and local communities to come forward with any information on criminal activities or suspicious behaviour to enable swift action by authorities.
“I once again urge all parties, including the local community, to channel any information so that we can take immediate action, including contacting the Kuala Lumpur Police Hotline at 03-2115999 or visiting the nearest police station,” he said.
In a related development, Fadil confirmed that the targeted premises held a valid entertainment licence and was operating as a karaoke outlet at the time of the incident. - April 8, 2026
