Aussies arrested for stripping to undies at Malaysian F1

A group of Australians have been arrested in Malaysia for allegedly stripping down to their briefs after countryman Daniel Ricciardo took out the Sepang Formula 1 Grand Prix.

According to local newspaper The Star, the men waved an Australian flag and chanted "Aussie Aussie Aussie. Oi oi oi", poured beer into their shoes and drank it, mimicking Ricciardo's podium celebration. They then posed for photos with other spectators.

Sydney resident Dean Gillespie was also at the race and said no one appeared to take offence at the controversial celebration.

"I was only a few metres away from the group of Aussies when they suddenly stripped off," Mr Gillespie told nine.com.au, adding it "clearly wasn't spontaneous".

A censored photograph shows some of the men who stripped to their briefs in front of crowds in Malaysia. (The Star)
The Australians would be held for four days while they were investigated for public indecency, and possibly disrespecting the Malaysian flag, Mr Aziz Ali said.

He said the men had bought the briefs bearing the Malaysian flag in Australia.

A spokeswoman from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the group were receiving consular assistance.

If the men are not charged it is likely they will still be deported.

The authorities in Muslim-majority Malaysia take a hard stance on public displays of nudity by foreigners.
Last year a group of 10 foreigners were accused of desecrating a holy site after they posted nude photos of themselves posing on Mount Kinabalu.

The group were jailed for three days, fined and deported.

Daniel Ricciardo brought back the ‘shoey’ to celebrate his first win at the Malaysian GP which came in dramatic fashion.