Fight over cigarettes sparked riot at camp

HULU TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA - The riot that broke out at the Ajil immigration detention camp started over a pack of cigarettes.

An Immigration Department source said an argument broke out between a newcomer and another detainee who had been at the camp for some time.

'They were fighting over a pack of cigarettes,' he said yesterday.


'This led to the rest joining in the brawl.'

In the 9.15pm incident on Saturday, the 127 Vietnamese detainees had rioted and tried to escape camp but were thwarted by security personnel.

Eight detainees were injured and subsequently treated at the Hulu Terengganu Hospital.

'They attempted to tear down the main door at the entrance to escape, but were foiled because of quick intervention from Immigration officers and the riot police,' said Terengganu Immigration director Mahasan Mustapa.

The Vietnamese Embassy has been informed about the incident. There are 200 illegal immigrants at the camp.

During the incident, the rioters used combustible materials to start a fire.

Fire and Rescue Department officers in three engines from Kuala Berang and Kuala Terengganu prevented the fire from spreading.

The riot also caused a commotion when the remaining detainees shook the fence surrounding the camp and scared stall owners operating outside the compound.

Terengganu police chief Senior Asst Comm 1 Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan said the riot was brought under control around midnight.

Tom Yam stall owner, Kharuddin Ismail, 53, who operates outside the camp, said the situation was tense.

He added that Immigration officers had asked the stall owners to clear the area as they feared the riot might spill beyond the perimeters of the camp.