Penang Rela condemns assault case, urges speedy investigations

GEORGE TOWN: A group of senior platoon leaders from Penang's People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) have come together to condemn the alleged brutal assault by a Datuk Sri on fellow Rela members in Ampang.
Led by its president Robin Yew, the members gathered on Wednesday night to condemn the assault on the three young Rela members, who were merely performing their duties.
They also urged the police to conduct their investigations speedily and offered to assist in any way possible to ensure that justice will prevail despite the fact that the young suspect is a person of high social stature with a title.
Yew told theSun that the suspect must be told that nobody is above the law, and the assault of innocent bystanders should not be allowed.
Yew said he hoped that the suspect's title would be revoked if he is found guilty of the assault.
Association member Datuk Abdul Wahab Hamid opined that the young Datuk Sri intentionally roughed up the members because he wanted to generate publicity about his business.
"I was told that this case has received media coverage in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, where the young businessman has commercial interests. Perhaps bad news is good publicity for the lad," said Abdul Wahab.
Last Friday, the three Rela members were on duty during a religious ceremony at Kout Ong Yah temple in Ampang when they were allegedly roughed up by the Datuk Sri after they told him to move his vehicle, which was blocking traffic.
The three sustained cuts and bruises and the issue dragged on for a while before the Datuk Sri surrendered to the police to facilitate investigations.
The suspect has since tested positive for narcotics while the three Rela members have lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission after the suspect apparently tried to get them to drop the case by offering a cash bribe.