Umno Youth exco member Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, better known as Papagomo, has been remanded for three days in connection with the alleged attempted assault of Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
Papagomo was picked up at his house in Wangsa Maju, Setapak at 3pm on Sunday (Feb 17) following a police report lodged by Syed Saddiq at the Sungai Way police station on Saturday (Feb 16).
Kajang Deputy OCPD Supt Mohd Sabri Abdullah said police arrested another man in relation to the incident but he was released on police bail.
A policeman from the Kajang Traffic Investigations and Enforcement Division also lodged a report on the incident yesterday.
It was reported that Syed Saddiq left Dewan Sri Cempaka, the nomination centre for the Semenyih by-election, at about 11.05am on Saturday (Feb 16) when a group of Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters jeered at him.
The Youth and Sports Minister alleged that Papagomo suddenly cornered him and put him in a headlock, but several policemen nearby managed to control the situation.
The Umno man, however, claims it was a hug and an attempt to shield the young MP.
Syed Saddiq, also the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia youth leader, shared videos of the incident on social media and expressed his disappointment with “gangsterism”.
A 22-second clip shows Syed Saddiq, accompanied by policemen and members of the PAS Amal Unit, being chased by a group of men clad in blue.
Investigations are being carried out under Section 353, Section 147 and Section 323 of the Penal Code for using criminal force to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duties, rioting and voluntarily causing hurt.
Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said Syed Saddiq is acting like a “drama queen”.
“I called Papagomo to ask him what had happened. He told me that he did not choke Syed Saddiq. He had merely held him to protect him from the crowd.
“He said that he told Syed Saddiq that he was being stupid by passing through the BN zone. He was only trying to protect Syed Saddiq.
“This is just the start of drama which they will play out in the next 14 days,” said Asyraf during a campaign run in Taman Kesuma in Semenyih last night.