Over 60 foreign workers in Malaysia arrested for allegedly celebrating Songkran outside hostel

PETALING JAYA - The unbridled desire to celebrate Songkran during the movement control order (MCO) period has landed a group of foreign workers in hot water.

Sepang OCPD Asst Comm Wan Kamarul Azran Wan Yusof said 62 people have been arrested for allegedly celebrating the water festival within the compounds of their hostel despite orders to remain indoors during the MCO.

"Two of those arrested confessed they recorded the celebrations and uploaded it on Facebook," he said, adding police also seized two mobile phones believed to have been used to record the party.

Copies of the video had gone viral on social media on Monday (April 13) with viewers condemning the act in the comment section.

​He said police are continuing investigations to trace others who are believed to have participated in the revelry.

Earlier, Selangor Covid-19 special spokesman Asst Comm Muhammad Yazid Muhammad Yew said police had started investigations into the celebrations under Section 269 of the Penal Code for committing a negligent act likely to spread infection of any dangerous disease.

The case is also being investigated for inciting a community to commit an offence against another under Section 505(c) of the Penal code, disobeying orders issued by authorised officers under Section 22(b) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and improper use of network facilities under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.