46 foreigners nabbed after riot at Penang workers' hostel
BUKIT MERTAJAM: A riot among foreign workers broke out at a workers' hostel in The Summit Bukit Mertajam building late last night, leading to the arrest of 46 people.
Seberang Prai Tengah district police chief Assistant Commissioner Helmi Aris said police received a tip-off at 10.42pm about a gathering of foreign workers in the building's courtyard.
He said initial investigations revealed that the premises had been repurposed as a workers' hostel by a company based in the Bukit Minyak industrial area.
He said the company had implemented strict regulations prohibiting smoking and alcohol consumption within the hostel.
"The unrest is believed to have been triggered by frustration among workers towards the hostel warden, a fellow foreign national, who had been collecting fines from those violating these rules — allegedly without the company's knowledge or authorisation.
"Tensions escalated when a group vandalised a company van parked in front of the building," he said in a statement.
The case is being investigated under Section 148 of the Penal Code for rioting with weapons.
Helmi confirmed that police had arrested 46 male foreign nationals in connection with the incident.
"A remand order has been granted by the Bukit Mertajam magistrate's court for four days, allowing investigations to continue until June 24," he added.
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