Batu Pahat police chief Ismail Dollah said those arrested were Parit Raja residents aged between 16 and 28.

They included those responsible for lighting flares as well as making and hanging up banners with the words “kerajaan gagal” (government has failed), as seen in videos and photographs circulated on social media.

Ismail said police have obtained a four-day remand order against those arrested.

“Investigations are being conducted under Section 144, Section 269 and Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, Section 8 of the Explosives Act, Rule 17(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infections Diseases Ordinance 2021 (Act 342) and Section 48 of the Road Transport Act,” he said in a statement.

Police arrested a 21-year-old man in the initial stage of the investigation last night.

Ismail said further investigations found that the incident occured at 2am yesterday, when a group of about 40 set up a road barrier using motorcycles and cars for 15 minutes to attract attention.

According to him, the same “kerajaan gagal” banner was also hung at the bridge in front of SJK (C) Kong Nan shortly after the incident.