PETALING JAYA: No Malaysians have been reported to be involved or affected by the ongoing riots in the United Kingdom so far, says Datuk Zakri Jaafar.
The Malaysian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom said so far the situation is status quo.
“The series of protests that have turned into riots continue and are being planned by right-wing groups.
“The number of arrests continues to rise and is expected to keep increasing, with the United Kingdom government announcing measures that they will take to address the situation, including enforcing criminal laws on both physical and online perpetrators.
“Thankfully, up until now, no Malaysian citizens have been reported to be involved or affected by the ongoing riots,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Staying safe: Dhanyeshver (left) and Zakri have both urged Malaysians in the UK to avoid travelling to areas affected by the ongoing riots.
On Sunday, Wisma Putra urged Malaysians residing in the United Kingdom or travelling to the country to stay away from areas affected by protests over the fatal stabbing incident in Southport last week.
Wisma Putra also urged Malaysians to remain vigilant and follow the latest updates as well as adhere to instructions from local authorities.
“Malaysians who have not registered with the Malaysian High Commission in London are strongly encouraged to do so immediately to ensure they receive timely information and assistance,” said the Foreign Ministry in a statement on Sunday.
United Kingdom and Eire (Ireland) Council for Malaysian Students (UKEC) chairman Dhanyeshver Pushpanathan said that the body has circulated a list of potential riots around cities in the UK.
“We are also planning a standby hotline for any students facing issues regarding this matter.
“At the moment, we advise Malaysian students to avoid going to the areas where riots are happening and urge them to stay at home and travel in groups,” he said.
UKEC is the umbrella body and national coalition of all Malaysian student societies across Britain and Ireland.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he expects the sentencing of many far-right rioters convicted after widespread unrest in the last few days to take place by the end of the week as police prepare for 30 more gatherings that were earlier predicted to happen yesterday.
Although officers in Liverpool and Durham issued dispersal orders to head off potential unrest, Tuesday night was free of the violent scenes that have played out across the UK since the initial disturbances in Southport a week earlier.
Muslim leaders in the UK called for restraint in response to far-right attacks, with heads of mosques in West Midlands warning against reactive violence as some communities plan counter-protests to protect streets from rioters, according to The Guardian.
More than 400 people have been arrested in connection to the riots and charges continued to be brought on Tuesday night, with defendants in court yesterday.
The violence was sparked by false claims about the identity of the teenager suspected of killing three young girls and injuring several others in a knife attack in Southport on July 29, which had seen shops looted and hotels housing asylum seekers attacked.
