Marketing Gone Wrong! 15 People Land In Lockup After Rented Hilux Flare Stunt Fails To Impress Cops

Imagine casually chilling with your friends at a café in Bukit Bintang at 2:00 AM, only to look out and see a convoy straight out of an action movie rolling down the street, complete with burning red flares and a giant mysterious black flag.

Well, that's exactly what went down on Sunday, 18 May. A viral video circulating on social media platforms like Threads and TikTok captured a reckless late-night stunt along Jalan Sultan Ismail that has now landed a group of people in hot water with the police.

Flares, Electric Bikes, & Zero License Plates

According to Dang Wangi district police chief Assistant Commissioner Sazalee Adam, the dangerous convoy consisted of a moving Toyota Hilux and two scrambler-style motorcycles, which are believed to be electric bikes.

Around seven to eight individuals dressed in black were spotted riding in and alongside the pickup truck while lighting bright flares right in the middle of the crowded tourist hotspot. To make things even shiftier, the group completely removed or hid their registration numbers, making it tough for immediate traffic tracking.

Sazalee warned that this stunt was incredibly irresponsible, directly endangering road users, pedestrians, business operators, and tourists hanging out in the area.

"We will not compromise on any activities that can disrupt public safety, especially in tourist hotspots like Bukit Bintang," he stated firmly during a press conference.

Mystery Solved: It Was A Cheap Stunt For A Clothing Brand 

Aside from the blinding flares, the biggest head-turner in the viral clip was a prominent black flag displaying the number '6.6'. While the internet initially suspected a wildly misguided shopping festival campaign, PDRM has officially cracked the code, it was a promotional stunt celebrating the 6th anniversary of a local clothing store.

But instead of trending for fashion, they're trending at the police station. Less than 24 hours after the clip blew up, the Dang Wangi police launched a massive sweep between 12:00 PM and 8:00 PM on Monday, detaining 15 individuals (14 men and one woman aged between 17 and 30) across Batu Caves, Shah Alam, Kajang, and Dengkil.

Among those locked up is the 24-year-old shop owner, along with several store employees and a 24-year-old woman believed to have acted as the video coordinator.

Hired Riders Paid Up To RM700 (To Risk Prison Time) 

If this was a marketing ploy designed to drum up clout, the creators are about to pay an incredibly heavy price.

Dang Wangi district police chief Assistant Commissioner Sazalee Adam revealed that the shop owner had hired several individuals to pull off the dangerous acts. The payout? Between RM50 and RM700 per person. 

Police also seized the Toyota Hilux (which turned out to be a rented unit) and the two electric scrambler motorcycles. To add fuel to the fire, checks showed the scramblers weren't even road-legal and were strictly meant for off-road use only.

The police are pulling absolutely no punches, and all 15 suspects have been remanded for three days until Thursday while investigations are carried out under a laundry list of serious charges:

• Section 290 of the Penal Code (Public nuisance)
• Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 (Disorderly conduct)
• Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Improper network use)
• Section 42 of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Reckless and dangerous driving)

Cops Credit Fast Arrests To Helpful Public Tip-Offs 

While the group originally thought they could hide their tracks by removing all vehicle registration plates before hitting Bukit Bintang, they severely underestimated the power of public surveillance and swift police intelligence.

Sazalee heavily credited the success of the rapid, under-24-hour arrests to crucial information and sightings provided by members of the public who witnessed the chaos or spotted the convoy.

Authorities have reiterated that they will never compromise on reckless clout-chasing stunts that directly threaten public order, especially in Malaysia's main tourist hotspots.