KUALA LUMPUR – Police have arrested two PKR-linked individuals over a viral video allegedly showing them soliciting “protection money”, in a case that has sparked outrage and swift political fallout.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus confirmed the arrests last night, as investigations intensify into the controversial footage that has been widely circulated online.
The incident has already prompted immediate action from PKR, which ordered both men to step down from their roles in the Federal Territories Residents’ Representative Council (MPPWP) with immediate effect.
Federal Territories PKR chairman Datuk Azman Abidin said the decision was made to ensure that both police and internal party investigations can proceed without interference.
The two men — identified as R Vijeyndran, deputy chairman of Sub-Zone 2 in Wangsa Maju, and G Paarthiydasan, chairman of Sub-Zone 6 — have denied any wrongdoing.
They maintained that their visit to a massage parlour at Wisma Setapak on March 24 was part of an official engagement involving routine monitoring duties.
Both individuals had earlier lodged police reports regarding the CCTV footage, which shows them inside the business premises.
Wangsa Maju district police chief Superintendent Lazim Ismail previously said the case is being investigated under Section 385 of the Penal Code for extortion, as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities.
The controversy erupted after a Facebook account, “Kelab Penyokong Perikatan Nasional”, uploaded an eight-minute and 34-second video on Wednesday, alleging that it captured PKR Wangsa Maju division committee members demanding payments from a massage outlet.
The footage, believed to be from CCTV recordings, appears to show the two men discussing a proposal linked to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) matters.
However, much of the audio is indistinct, making it difficult to verify the full context of the conversation.
On Thursday, Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh said she had instructed that a police report be lodged over the video.
She stressed that if the allegations are proven, the individuals involved would be removed from their positions, underscoring a zero-tolerance stance towards any form of “protection money” or middleman practices.
Separately, DBKL has denied any involvement in the alleged activities and rejected claims linking the agency to abuse of power or illicit payments. – March 29, 2026