ALOR SETAR: A signboard at the Kedah Mentri Besar’s official residence has been vandalised, with the offenders leaving behind four plastic bags containing paint.
The “Seri Mentaloon – Rumah Kediaman Rasmi Menteri Besar” (Seri Mentaloon – Official Residence of the Mentri Besar) signboard at the residence in Anak Bukit here was found to be smeared with red and blue paint yesterday morning.
Some of the landscaped plants behind the signboard were also splashed with paint.
The signboard was attached to a concrete perimeter fence some 10m away from the residence’s sentry post.
It is believed to be the first such incident at the Kedah Mentri Besar’s official residence.
Attempts to get a comment from Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor were not successful.
His press secretary Muhamad Mat Yakim, who was at the scene yesterday, declined to talk about the matter.
Unwanted ‘art’: ACP Ahmad Shukri (left) showing the vandalised signboard at the Kedah Mentri Besar’s official residence in Alor Setar. — GC TAN/The Star
OCPD Kota Setar Asst Comm Police (ACP) Ahmad Shukri Mat Akhir said there was no CCTV installed around the official residence.“Police will try to get CCTV recordings from nearby houses and from the CCTV installed at a traffic light junction nearby to assist in the investigation,” he said.
He said the Kota Setar district police headquarters’ operations centre was alerted about the vandalism by a staff member of the sentry post at 10am yesterday.
“Police found four plastic bags – two with red paint and another two with blue paint – near the scene.
“We believe it was left behind by the culprit or culprits,” he said, adding that it was not known yet how many people were involved.
He said the case would be investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code for causing mischief.
ACP Ahmad Shukri said the vandalism was believed to have happened between 7am and 10am.
“When the morning shift sentry staff came in at about 7am, there was no paint on the signboard.
“Nearly three hours later, a passer-by found the signboard splashed with paint and informed the sentry staff,” he said.
He urged the public not to spread any speculation on the matter.
Like the other PAS-ruled states of Kelantan and Terengganu, Kedah will not be holding its state polls despite the 15th General Election having been called.
