Kota Kinabalu: Someone attempted to set fire to a Barisan Nasional (BN) campaign office in Kg Padas in Sandakan on Wednesday. A spokesperson for the Sabah Police Contingent on the 13th General Election, Supt. Mohd Azhar Hamin, said initial police investigations showed that a vehicle stopped near the campaign office at about 3am.
He said those manning the office smelled something burning five minutes after the car left and upon inspection, they found a piece of rubber set ablaze next to the premises, adding that they managed to put the fire out.
He said this during a media conference held at the police headquarters. here, Thursday.
The case, he said, would be investigated under Section 436 of the Penal Code for mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy a house.
He said the case was among five investigation papers opened for numerous offences such as burning of flags, missing flags, causing grievous hurt, conducting talks without police permit and attempting to burn a campaign office.
Azhar said clashes between two political candidates and supporters in Tamparuli town on Wednesday were under the case of causing grievous hurt.
He said early investigations showed that one of the opponent supporters had asked a question to the candidate, causing the candidate's supporters to hit the victim on his ribs.
"This prompted the victim to lodge a report the same day and police are waiting for instructions from the deputy public prosecutor to proceed with the investigation," he said, adding that the case would be investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code.
On another note, he said four people have been detained in separate cases since the campaign period began.
In the first incident, he said, three men were detained for allegedly involved in a fight near Jalan Obor in Sandakan on Wednesday.
"Preliminary investigations showed the men, with two others, had assaulted two men along the roadside after the latter tried to stop their vehicle at about 8pm.
"Police are still investigating whether political differences between them were behind the motive of the attack," he said.
He said police detained a 22-year-old man for carrying an 11-inch long knife in the second incident in Ranau at about 4pm on Wednesday.
The man, he said, was found to be in possession of the knife while attending a political talk held at the Ranau Community Hall.
He said both cases would be investigated under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting and Section 6(1) of the Corrosive, Explosive and Dangerous Weapons Act 1958 (Revised 1998).
On another development, he said, as of Wednesday, a total of 714 campaigns were held Statewide including 389 talks, 175 political ceremonies and 59 political assemblies.
He said the security situation is under control and that police have tightened security with police deployed in locations particularly where talks are being held to prevent any untoward incidents.
