BUKIT MERTAJAM – Police arrested 21 Myanmar nationals for participating in a “water festival” in front of a house in Taman Bidara here yesterday.
Seberang Perai Tengah district police chief Shafee Abd Samad said, acting on public complaints, police raided the premises at 2.30pm and found the group dancing and spraying water from rubber hoses at one another.
He said those arrested were aged between 20 and 30 years old and included a woman.
"They were noisy and dancing to music blaring in the background. They were neither practising social distancing nor wearing masks,” he said.
He said the revellers, believed to be factory workers, tried to flee but police managed to round them up.
One of them, believed to be drunk, pushed policemen in a bid to resist arrest, he said.
Shafee said they are being investigated under Sections 186 and 269 of the Penal Code as well as Regulation 19 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Regulations 2021 for violating the movement control order.
In Myanmar, the water festival is usually held in mid-April to celebrate the Myanmar new year.
Meanwhile, Seberang Perai Utara district police chief Noorzainy Mohd Noor said two men were arrested for drink-driving in Jalan Chain Ferry, Butterworth, at 6am today.
The two, aged 35 and 37, are a mechanic and a lorry driver, he said. – Bernama, April 18, 2021
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