GEORGE TOWN: The Chinese New Year break led to several foreigners having too much to drink and getting involved in drunken brawls.
Police arrested five foreigners in two fights, one in Sungai Nibong on the island and another in Prai on the mainland.
Penang police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said in the first incident on Saturday, they received a public complaint about a fight in a flat in Sungai Nibong.
Comm Mohd Shuhaily said in the 9.50pm incident, a 24-year-old man sustained facial injuries after being hit with a glass bottle by his housemate.
About four hours later, he said a team from George Town police headquarters detained the 32-year-old housemate, who works as a cleaner.Comm Mohd Shuhaily said police believe the two men got drunk at home and a misunderstanding arose.
He said a urine test done on the suspect came back negative for drugs, adding that the man was remanded for three days until today to help in the investigation.
The case is being investigated under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt with dangerous weapons or means.
The other fight involved intoxicated foreign nationals, and police arrested four men aged between 23 and 27 at Chai Leng Park in Prai in the wee hours of Sunday.
Comm Mohd Shuhaily said the four were involved in an altercation and two of them suffered face and hand injuries after being hit with sharp objects.
He added that the other two suspects were not injured.
“Investigations showed that before the fight broke out, the suspects were drunk and this may have led to a misunderstanding and argument,” he said.
Police also confiscated a folding knife, measuring about 15cm, which was believed to have been used in the brawl.
He said the suspects have been remanded until Wednesday.
Comm Mohd Shuhaily called on those who employed foreign nationals to advise their workers not to get involved in criminal activities.