Perak: A man was arrested for possessing a vegetable knife during the Thaipusam festival near the Sri Subramaniar Temple, Gunung Cheroh here, yesterday. Perak Police deputy chief DCP Mohammad Azlin Sadari stated that the 34-year-old suspect was detained at around 11.30 am.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the suspect claimed the vegetable knife was for self-protection. However, due to his past records involving violent and drug-related offences, the possession was deemed unreasonable, prompting the police to detain him. Mohammad Azlin made these remarks while speaking to reporters at the Perak Police High Profile Policing Programme with the community in conjunction with the Thaipusam festival at the Sri Subramaniar Temple compound.

Mohammad Azlin further mentioned that the suspect has been remanded for three days from today to assist investigations under Section 6(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958. Meanwhile, the Drone Unit of the Police Air Wing detained an 80-year-old man for flying a drone without a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) in the same area.

He noted that the elderly man was released on police bail, but the drone was confiscated for further investigation. Additionally, a total of 763 police officers and personnel were deployed statewide during the Thaipusam festival.