PETALING JAYA: The parang-wielding man who attempted to stop firefighters from extinguishing a fire at a house at Section 17 here tested positive for drug use, say police.
Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Fakhrudin Abdul Hamid said the suspect arrested at the scene on Thursday (May 11) was a 42-year-old local man.
"Tests showed the suspect was positive for amphetamines and methamphetamines.
"Further investigations revealed the suspect was unemployed and was renting a room at the house where the fire occurred. The suspect is believed to have set fire to the curtains," he said in a statement on Friday (May 12).
He said the case has been classified as mischief by fire and the suspect has been remanded for four days.
It was reported on Thursday (May 11) that the man attempted to stop firefighters from extinguishing a fire here by brandishing a parang at them.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Hafisham Mohd Noor, when contacted, said that they received a call about a fire at a terrace house on Jalan 17/2 here on Thursday (May 11) afternoon.
However, when they reached the scene, firefighters were stopped from entering the burning house by the suspect with the parang.
Firemen, however, managed to extinguish the fire by breaking windows and a roof. The fire destroyed roughly 30% of the building and was fully extinguished at 4.20pm.
The suspect was apprehended by firefighters and policemen at 4.23pm after breaking down the door to the house.
