Story by Chan Lilian
Pix by Shum Jian Wei
BUKIT Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh Deo has condemned the ”trial by media”’ of news about Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) members purportedly hitting a man by the name of Ong Eu Soon.
“This case is pending investigation by the police. Two police reports were made by Lee Yew Kuen and Lee Chan Kwong who were injured in the incident. Let us not interfere with the investigations,” Ramkarpal said at a press conference in Komtar on Aug 19.
Yew Kuen, 66, told members of the press that he tried to prevent a man from charging and hitting the younger Lee on Aug 17 at Farlim.
As a result, he was hit on the head three times and started to bleed.
He showed media members the blood-stained shirt he wore that night and the wound he had on his head.
Exco member Phee Boon Poh was also present at the press conference with a few members of the PPS. The members who are in their 60s and 70s pointed out that they were not in their PPS purple vest and neither were they on duty that night.
They were having a Hungry Ghost Festival (Phor Thor) dinner and were in the vicinity at the time of the incident.
“At this juncture, the victims are here. I don’t think it is proper to comment further on this matter,” Ramkarpal said.
“We respect the law. We don’t abuse it. I urge all parties including the media to refrain from speculating.”
Ramkarpal, RSN Rayer, Wong Hon Wai and Yeoh Soon Hin will assist both Yew Kuen and Chan Kwong to make sure that the matter reaches the Attorney-General’s office after proper investigation by the police.
On another matter, Ramkarpal told members of the press that a police report will be made against the Facebook owner by the name of Ong Eu Soon for the comments which contained criminal intimidation, assault and other statements of a serious nature.
In another related matter, the owner of a gym in Farlim by the name of Madam Goh came forward with proof of police reports made against Ong Eu Soon.
The said Ong had threatened her staff with a baton on several occasions.
She also alleged that Ong would harass her staff almost weekly.
“I am operating a gym. We have done our best to reduce the sounds of the machines. We are operating from a commercial area. How can Ong make his home in a commercial shoplot? Once, he even threatened me and warned me ‘you don’t get involved or I will wallop you too’,” said a distressed Goh whose gym is above the place where Ong lives.
Phee and Ramkarpal clarified that the group of people who were at the incident were not there as PPS members.
They were there as Bukit Gelugor people.
“However, the crux of the entire issue is the attack on the PPS and the state government by the media and certain individuals,” Ramkarpal said.
“The pen is mightier than the sword. Before the police can complete investigations, the media has published on their front page ‘PPS assaulted me’. I am now asking – Was it assaulted or assaulting? Also, take a look at these elderly gentlemen and the ladies. Do they even look remotely like the thugs described?” Phee added.