Ipoh folk scurry for cover from man brandishing toy M16 rifle

IPOH: A mentally-challenged man dressed in army fatigues and brandishing a fake M16 rifle was arrested after he terrified passers-by with the toy.

Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Sum Chang Keong said the 28-year-old Chinese man was arrested at Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah Utara at about 2pm Tuesday.

"Our investigations with Hospital Bahagia, Tanjung Rambutan show that the man from Desa Tambun Indah has a history of mental illness and was last admitted there in 2005.

"The suspect bought the fake firearm in Ipoh in 2012 and the army clothes in Sitiawan about four months ago.

"It is believed that he was merely playing with the fake firearm as he had wanted to be a soldier since young," he said.