RIGHTLY or wrongly, the actions of an extreme minority have cast a bad light on those who don religious garb.
The latest incident involves a road bully sporting a kopiah (skull cap) who decided to teach a fellow road user some manners by administering some street justice.
In a video shared on X by news site MYNEWSHUB (@mynewshub), it is claimed the kopiah-clad driver recklessly stopped the victim’s car before damaging the rear-view mirror and assaulting the driver by punching him on the face.
Saya abang kepada mangsa dalam insiden ‘road bully’ yang baru je berlaku kat jalan Kajang ke Putrajaya.
Adik saya kena serang dengan seorang pakcik berkopiah yang pandu Alza nombor plat VDQ 5529. Semuanya mula bila pakcik tu masuk lorong tiba-tiba, adik saya hon sikit je sebagai… pic.twitter.com/Oq5Sb8aGyA
— MYNEWSHUB (@mynewshub) April 18, 2025
Apparently, the victim’s brother claimed that the assailant in a Perodua Alza had chased his brother’s car after the latter “having mildly honked” him for suddenly cutting into his lane.
Police have since arrested a man in his 50s in connection with this road rage incident in the South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE) that has gone viral on social media.
Sepang police deputy chief Superintendent Shan Gopal Krishnan said the suspect was arrested at 12.30am on Saturday (April 19).
Checks revealed that the road bully also possessed two drug-related records.
“The case is being investigated under Section 279 of the Penal Code for reckless driving which carries a penalty of up to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of up to RM2,000 in addition to Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt.
The latter offence carries a maximum jail term of one year or a fine not exceeding RM2,000.
The worrying trend of late s that such incidences of road-bullying or moral policing seem to be the exclusive purview of the conservative types donning religious garb.
It started with retired civil servant in robes slapping a non-Muslim Sarawakian undergraduate for eating in public during Ramadan.
This is alongside several other high profile incidents involving so-called “Pak Arab” who seem to think they are a law onto themselves or that they are duty-bound to serve up summary justice as and when they deem fit.
Certainly, it is extremely unfair to tar all who follow such religious-stylings but the trend of late is painting a negative perception of those who don such clothing.
Quite a few netizens sounded a warning to be wary of such holier-than-thou types, insinuating they are nothing but wolves in sheep’s clothing.
One even cautioned drivers “not to have interaction with Malay drivers in kopiah or donning jubah (robe) on the roads”.
One netizen surmised that the video does not show the incident in full. The assailant was, perhaps, angered at a previous reckless manoeuvre by the victim, sparking an angry reaction. However, the netizen says whatever the reason, there is no excuse for road bullying.
Another commenter helpfully quoted popular preacher Mufti Menk who counselled taking a chill pill in such scenarios. No point getting heated up and doing something which the person may later regret.
This recent spate of incidents may look like a concerted attempt to portray walaun (slang for stanch PAS supporters) in a bad light.
These perpetrators may be the minority but they have managed to create a negative perception of the holier-than-thou brigade and those who wear such religious items of clothing.
In the meantime, it is hoped the authorities throw the book at these perpetrators to make an example of them. Perhaps, a heavier sentence should be meted out for bringing an entire religious community into disrepute. – April 21, 2025
