SOCIAL media is a great way to name and shame people for displaying reprehensible or even criminal acts.
In the age of cancel culture, netizens are always quick to highlight anti-social behaviour and demand ‘justice’ through public censure or through the filing of police reports. The latter is exactly what netizens were urging a former election candidate to do after she shared an unpleasant experience on X (formerly Twitter).
Dr Noraishah Mydin Abdul Aziz who contested in the Putrajaya parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election (GE15) had parked her car at a persons with disability parking spot at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur when a man in another car – a black Perodua Alza – parked behind her.
Seeing this, the scientist who is a spina bifida patient had a verbal confrontation with the errant motorist. Dr Noraishah who is also a rights advocate claims that the motorist then drove and hit her while she was in a wheelchair.
Netizens claim foul
Netizens were naturally aghast at this motorist’s actions.
“This has gone way overboard. Please lodge a police report and have a press release too. Just too much,” suggested X user @mujeshjay.
@gialimario said awareness about people with disabilities is still low in Malaysia. “As long as the act (Persons and Disabilities Act 2008) is not implemented, Malaysians will continue with their indifferent attitude,” said the X user while noting that awareness about people with disabilities is still low in Malaysia.
Dr Noraishah says she fully intends to lodge a police report while lamenting the lack of enforcement on the Persons and Disabilities Act 2008.
If the allegations are true, it is disconcerting to read that there are Malaysians who will stoop to the level of bullying a handicapped lady.
Regardless of the words or tone of her complaint, nothing can justify knocking into a person in a wheelchair with a vehicle.
It is hoped the cops will investigate and if indeed the allegations are true, the culprit should be made an example of. There is no place for such anti-social behaviour in civil society. – Oct 4, 2023
Pics credit: Dr Noraishah Mydin Abdul Aziz’s X account
