Malaysian police arrested 48 Bangladeshi citizens on Tuesday for violating restrictions over COVID-19 during Eid-ul-Azha prayers.
Malaysian police official Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said they arrested them to probe a viral video showing hundreds of individuals, believed to be foreigners, violating the pandemic restrictions by performing prayers at an open area outside an Islamic assembly building in Taman Pelangi area.
A video showing over 200 individuals attending Eid-ul-Azha prayers in the parking lot and by the roadside of a building in Taman Pelangi between 8.30 am to 9 am Tuesday had gone viral, leading to the investigation.
They were praying in the area as the congregation management did not allow them inside after reaching the limit of 100 people, Shuhaily said. "They then allegedly proceeded to perform prayers on the road in front of the building."
Police will conduct investigations under Section 269 of the Penal Code for a negligent act that could spread an infectious disease as well as movement without permission and Section 270 of the Penal Code for spreading harmful infection and the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) (Measures in Communicable Areas) Regulations 2020, Shuhaily said.
