There was no racial motivation in the attack on a promoter at Plaza Low Yat yesterday, Dang Wangi district police chief Zainol Samah stressed today.

Zainol also confirmed the claim of the Plaza Low Yat management that the attacker suffered from mental illness.

"The situation at Plaza Low Yat is under control and it has nothing to do with race," Zainol said.

Police moved quickly to dispel any racial elements in this incident as it brought back fresh memories of the riot outside Plaza Low Yat in July, which turned racial.

In the incident yesterday, Zainol said the situation that led to the promoter at Plaza Low Yat being punched started in Cheras.

He said a colleague of the victim had a misunderstanding with the suspect, who was riding a motorcycle in Taman Maluri, Cheras.

The suspect had demanded that the driver of a yellow Honda Civic to stop his vehicle for nearly hitting him, but the driver refused as he was worried for his safety.

The suspect proceeded to follow the driver to Plaza Low Yat where he worked.

"The suspect clashed with the Honda Civic driver at the Plaza Low Yat car park and slammed his helmet at him and also on the bonnet of the car, causing a dent," Zainol said.

He added that the suspect then continued to follow the driver into Plaza Low Yat, where he met the driver's colleague who was wearing a similar uniform at one of the stores.

The suspect then demanded to know where the driver was, prompting the victim to check the store's work schedule, only to be punched by the suspect.

Two criminal records

Zainol said the 27-year-old suspect was apprehended by Plaza Low Yat security personnel and investigations showed he suffered from mental illness.

"He also has two criminal records, one is drug-related and the other for theft," he said.

The case is being investigated under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act for threatening or insulting behaviour, Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing harm and Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation.

In the earlier incident at Plaza Low Yat in July, two youths who had stolen a mobile phone were apprehended by workers there.

However the youths, who had backing from underworld groups, accused Plaza Low Yat traders of cheating them.

The gangs then mobilised a large crowd outside Plaza Low Yat, smashing cars and attacking businesses and journalists.