Was bomb blast the work of Muslim extremists, ask Malaysians

The timing of today’s bomb blast in front of a nightclub along Jalan Bukit Bintang has not escaped the attention of Malaysians on social media, many of whom were quick to associate the explosion with the heated debate over the “Oktoberfest” beer festival.

Even as police suspect gangsters to be behind the blast which killed one and injured 13 others, Internet users speculated that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) militants have reached Malaysia’s shores.

“I guess this is something to do (with) the alcohol... you wanted a beer festival... this may be the case...” wrote Facebook user Mariah Mohd Shah on a link to the news article on the bomb blast.

Peter Cheng wrote on Facebook: “Somehow I get the feeling this is jihadist work. It’s outside a pub. Habis la our beloved Malaysia!!!”

Others began posting comments with the words “Isis is here” and “Welcome Isis!”, while a few bandied names of other well-known Islamist terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Readers of The Malaysian Insider were also sceptical that gangsters were behind it, noting the weapon of choice used and the target of the grenade.

“Targeting club sounds more like extremists trying to ‘teach the non-Muslims a lesson’ than an underground tussle. And grenades? Can any civilian acquire hand grenades?” asked “ZakariahZ”.

“Seberang” declared that Isis had arrived, saying: “This is no underworld tussle.

“Gangsters not going to use grenades as too dangerous and if caught, death sentence. Furthermore the gangsters will probably blow themselves up before throwing.”

“chatwave” noted that the police were quick to pin the blame on the underworld before having even conducted any investigation.

“How they know? Simply taruh only. Could be extremists of the anti-liquor faction too. Didn’t PAS and some hardline groups oppose Oktoberfest just yesterday?” wrote “chatwave”.

Oktoberfest started on September 24 at several locations in Selangor but the highlight of the event runs from tomorrow until the end of the week in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya.

Earlier today, PAS Dewan Ulama voiced strong objections to the beer-drinking festival and urged Selangor’s local authorities to take action against the organiser for openly promoting the event without a permit.

Controversial Muslim right-wing group Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) has also demanded that the authorities take immediate action to stop promoting the ongoing Oktoberfest beer festival.

But other Facebook users said the scale of the destruction was too small to be the work of Muslim extremist groups.

“The location and nature of business along this area spells underworld clearly,” wrote Wan Amirul.

Jamilah Endot wrote on Facebook that the explosion was “merely a triad warfare”.

“The Sun Complex is well known for prostitution, illegal immigrant activities, etc so the underworld disagreement is bound to happen...” she wrote.

Early this morning, a car jockey was killed and 13 others injured when a hand grenade exploded in front of the pub along Jalan Bukit Bintang in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

According to Kuala Lumpur CID chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Gan Kong Meng, car jockey Tiong Kwang Yie, 36, died in the incident.

"Police received a complaint at 4.25am and sent a despatch to the Cherry Blossom nightclub to ascertain the damage.

"Initial reports indicate that two hand grenades had been thrown from the second floor of a building."

The injured, nine men and four women, aged between 20 and 42, were sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital and Tung Shin Hospital.

The victims have been identified as Lim Soon Hock, 51, Teoh Keow Meng, 40, Yaw Lee Hock, 41, C. Revindran, 49, and Tiong Kwang Yie. The foreign nationals are Jasu (Thailand), Wong Kim Teng (Singapore), Ma Yunfeng and Yong Jiaqin (both China). The other five victims have not been identified.

"Initial investigations reveal that two hand grenades were thrown but only one exploded.

"Shrapnel from the hand grenade caused injuries to passers-by," Gan added.

Four vehicles were damaged in the blast – a Toyota Vellfire (WVL 168), Toyota Camry (WTT 8999), Mazda 2 (WXJ 3333) and a BMW (WTV 36).

Police found the second hand grenade, which failed to explode, under the Toyota Camry.

"We believe this is linked to an underworld tussle.”

A police forensic team is at the scene, combing the area for clues and interviewing witnesses.

Checks revealed that the hand grenades had been issued in March 1983. The unexploded grenade was detonated by police at the scene at 12.37pm. – October 9, 2014.

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