MCA has condemned the recent assault of a disabled man in Chukai, Terengganu where the man was brutally beaten and kicked after accidentally crashing into a market stall.
Describing it as an incident that should never have escalated to such violence, MCA Terengganu state liaison committee chairperson Datuk Dr Monna Ong Siew Siew said the appalling act of mob violence has raised crucial questions about how the society treats vulnerable individuals.
“As the police have detained a few suspects, we must emphasise that the perpetrators must be charged accordingly. Assault was involved, and we must not let it be brushed aside,” she stated.
“This violent episode was not just an isolated incident; it highlights a broader issue of mob mentality, where people resort to violence rather than finding peaceful resolutions.
“The public must not – and cannot – condone or ignore this behaviour and appropriate legal action must be taken.”
Dr Ong further questioned attack, saying that the man had repeatedly apologised for crashing into the stall but yet the response was a kick to the head.
“What prompted this resort to violence? We must be sympathetic towards disabled people. It was a small accident that caused a few items to fall, nothing more than that. Why the attack? Was it because the man was disabled, therefore he was discriminated against?
“If the man wasn’t disabled, would people still have attacked him? We must treat people with kindness and empathy to foster better communities, not overreact to minor incidents.”
Dr Ong went on to rise questions about the police’s call for the public to stop sharing the video of the assault without offering further explanation, adding that failure to comply could see them charged under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA).
“This request goes a step too far. The CMA prohibits content that is obscene, menacing, or offensive, but this should not apply to the sharing of content that exposes real-world violence,” she argued.
“The video serves as an important reminder of the violence that occurred, and the public has a right to be informed.
“To restrict the spread of this information could easily be seen as an attempt to suppress awareness and avoid accountability.”
Dr Ong said rather than discouraging the sharing of the video, the focus should be on using social media to find further evidence and witnesses, so that justice can be served.
“Moreover, viral videos often reflect the true sentiments of society, sparking conversations that can lead to meaningful change,” she continued, saying that this incident must remain in the public eye to remind people of the severity of the attack and importance of preventing such violence in the future.
“If we allow such acts of cruelty to go unchallenged, we risk normalising them. Disabled people must be treated fairly,” she added.
In the incident, which occurred around 9.30am on Friday (Jan 17), the 47-year-old victim, who has a mental disability, was assaulted by several individuals.
The victim suffered injuries believed to have been caused by punches and kicks, allegedly inflicted by traders and shoppers at the Padang Astaka Chukai farmer’s market.
It is understood that the assault occurred after the victim’s motorcycle accidentally collided with one of the market stalls, causing food being sold to fall and spill.
Acting Kemaman police chief Deputy Superintendent Wan Muhamad Wan Ja’afar, said police have arrested five men, aged between 18 and 60, to assist in the investigation. – Jan 20, 2025
Main image: New Straits Times
