Malaysian police arrest 27 in clash with squatters

Malaysian police arrest 27 in clash with squatters Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian police detained 27 protestors after a scuffle broke out during the demolition of several houses in a squatter community, news report said Friday.

The crowd, made up of residents of the squatter colony in the southern state of Johor and social activists, had gathered Thursday at the road leading to the village to protest the demolition of houses there amid a heavy police presence.

The police were accused of being high-handed while making the arrests after they were allegedly pelted with stones by the angry crowd, causing several detainees to require medical attention.

Representing about 310 households in the village, lawyer Hassan Abdul Karim said the squatters had appealed the court order requested by the landowner to vacate the land because the basic amenities in their new homes were not ready, the Star daily reported.

The magistrate's court was scheduled to make a decision on the appeal on October 29.

Confirming the arrests, district police chief Roslan Zainuddin said all the detainees, aged 18 to 61 and including two women, would be charged with obstructing police. (dpa)