Malaysia warns of action against LTTE sympathisers

Kuala Lumpur, Sept 6: Malaysian police, which arrested five persons allegedly linked to the LTTE for assaulting the Sri Lankan envoy here, has warned of action against sympathisers of the banned group.

"I want to remind these groups that they are supporting a group which is banned by the United Nations. We, as a UN signatory country, can take action against them (supporters)," Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters yesterday. The attack on High Commissioner (ambassador) Ibrahim Sahib Ansar left him with minor injuries.

Khalid said police were also probing local groups who had protested to identify their links to the LTTE and warned that they could be probed under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma).

When asked whether the group in the attack was affiliated with the LTTE, Khalid said they were showing signs of sympathising with the LTTE and police were investigating their links to the group. He said police have identified all of the attackers and have arrested five people aged between 27 and 56 who were from Ipoh, Dengkil and Kuala Lumpur, the Star said.

Khalid said police were now tracking four more suspects involved in the attack. "We regret the incident had happened," he said. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry in a statement condemned the attack on its High Commissioner.

The High Commission is coordinating with law enforcement authorities in Malaysia and other relevant local authorities to identify perpetrators and assist with investigations, it said.

It was reported that the High Commissioner was assaulted at the airport after sending off Daya Gamage, the country’s Primary Industries Minister, who was in Malaysia for the International Conference of Asian Political Parties.

Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse, who ordered the bloody military assault which ended the LTTE's separatist campaign in 2009, also attended the conference.

PTI