MCA lashed out at its coalition partner Umno today for the alleged involvement of its youth wing members in the attack on enforcement officers at Teluk Bahang.
Permatang Pauh MCA division chief Datuk Ma Kok Ben urged Umno to view the incident seriously, saying the “thuggish behaviour” shown against the Penang Island Municipal Council enforcement officers was unacceptable.
“Umno leaders must seriously review this act of violence by its grassroot leaders,” he said in a press statement issued today.
Ma was referring to a scuffle that broke out between enforcement officers and a group of youths believed to be from Malay rights group Perkasa, Umno and Pekida during an operation to remove illegal stalls at Teluk Bahang yesterday.
“No matter how justified they may feel to defend the stall owners, roughing up anyone is simply wrong,” Ma said.
In the 10.15am incident, council enforcement officers had started to dismantle illegal stalls along Jalan Hassan Abbas in Teluk Bahang when a group of protesters confronted and attempted to stop them.
A scuffle broke out during the confrontation and in the midst of the shoving and pushing, Southwest district office principal assistant Abu Hasan Omar was injured and his shirt torn.
The enforcement operation was called off after the incident and Abu Hasan lodged a police report later.
Ma said the scenario of increasing violence is worrisome, particularly when it was only just recently when Education Deputy Minister P. Kamalanathan was allegedly punched by an Umno Youth Hulu Selangor member.
“Now, a similar incident has occurred in Penang,” he said.
He called on grassroots leaders not to resort to assault and violence regardless what disagreements they may have with the authorities.
“Enforcement officers must act in accordance with the laws or state enactments so if they feel aggrieved over the enforcement action or felt that the enforcement officers are practising double standards, they should go through the proper channels in lodging an appeal against the action rather than resorting to violence,” he said.
Earlier today, Deputy Chief Minister I Mohd Rashid Hasnon also condemned the group that used violence to stop the enforcement action against illegal stalls.
“The state government views such violent actions seriously especially when these are government servants who are only conducting their duty under the law,” he said in a press conference together with the Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
He said the enforcement officers were under instructions to demolish 14 illegal stalls that were vacant, still under construction or just newly constructed along Teluk Bahang while stressing that existing legal stalls were left untouched.
“Although the enforcement team were accompanied by 35 policemen, the police were not able to protect our enforcement team from the attack,” Rashid said.
Rashid also played a video clip of the incident to show the group’s violence.
Several hours after the state government called on the police to take immediate action to arrest those involved in the attack, the police told a separate press conference that seven men had been detained to assist in investigations into the case.
State criminal investigation department chief SAC Mazlan Kesah said the men, aged between 30 and 36, were arrested after the incident yesterday.
“We will be questioning them to facilitate our investigations into the incident under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing public servants in discharging their duties,” he said.
All seven men do not have any previous criminal records and had tested negative for drugs.- themalaymailonline
