KUALA LUMPUR – Police have debunked a viral video circulating on social media that allegedly shows a brawl outside Bukit Mertajam Hospital during a religious procession yesterday, confirming the clip is an old recording from 2023 and unrelated to the annual Thiruvilla (temple festival) ceremony held nearby.
Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said investigations carried out by the authorities confirmed that no untoward incidents occurred at the hospital, despite the alarm caused by the resurfaced footage.
Speaking to Scoop, Azizee explained that the police had verified the situation after the video began spreading online and sparked concern among the public.
“Our checks confirmed that the video is not related to any event that occurred yesterday. It is an old recording from 2023 which has resurfaced and is now being circulated again on social media,” he said.
He added that police monitoring throughout the day found that activities in the area proceeded without disruption.
“Yesterday, the only activities taking place in the vicinity were religious processions and the annual Thiruvilla prayer ceremony organised by a nearby Hindu shrine. The event was carried out peacefully and did not cause any disturbance to public order,” he said.
Azizee said the procession concluded at about 11.30pm, with police personnel on the ground ensuring that the situation remained under control.
“There were no reports of fights, violence or any form of unrest. Everything proceeded in an orderly manner, and the event ended without incident,” he added.
The resurfaced video had been shared by controversial preacher Zamri Vinoth and several other social media users, leading to confusion and concern among members of the public.
Earlier, the group Persatuan Kebajikan Surplus Pulau Pinang (Surplus) had announced plans to organise a protest against the shrine.
However, the group later cancelled the demonstration after holding discussions with the shrine’s management committee and Seberang Perai Tengah police chief Helmi Aris.
The issue had also drawn political attention, with several leaders, including RSN Rayer, the Member of Parliament for Jelutong, lodging police reports after Zamri previously called for the demolition of the shrine in a Facebook post. – March 8, 2026