IPOH: Police have recorded statements from 17 Chinese nationals involved in the International Guan Gong Cultural Festival at Dataran Menara Condong in Teluk Intan yesterday.
Perak police chief Datuk Azizi Mat Aris said police received approval from the deputy public prosecutor (DPP) this afternoon, for them to call in nine men and eight women to assist in the investigation.
"There is an order to investigate, so we will wait for the investigation paper to be submitted to the DPP for further action," he told a Press conference here today.
Azizi earlier confirmed that the parade, which saw participants waving China's flags and garnered attention on social media, did not comply with the pre-requisites under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
He added that police were working to identify other foreign flags displayed in the parade, noting that the viral video also showed Thailand and Vietnam flags.
The parade, which also involved a procession of decorated floats, took place from 8pm to 11.30pm yesterday, with approximately 400 spectators.
Prior to this, the Guan Gong Cultural Association of Malaysia has issued an apology over the incident.
Its chairman Soon Boon Hua said the act of waving the flag of another country was never planned in the existing programme itinerary prepared by the organisers. – Bernama