Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Punched for doing civic duty

A 23-YEAR-OLD man was assaulted recently when he approached two men and told them not to put up posters advertising money-lending services in SS2, Petaling Jaya.

The incident happened shortly after the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) launched a blitz to remove illegal banners, bunting, posters and wall bills in the city.

“I was doing some grocery shopping when I saw two fair-skinned guys in their 20s putting up the posters on lamp posts, bus stops, and other public amenities around SEA Park and SS2,” said the man who only wanted to be known as Kuah. He was with Damansara Utama assemblyman Dr Cheah Wing Yin’s special assistant Richard Yap at the time.

“I tried to reason with them and told them that what they were doing was illegal and improper. One of them got agitated and punched me in the head.

“The guy stopped attacking me when a police patrol car happened to pass by and two police officers tried to diffuse the situation,” he said.

Kuah said the two men continued arguing, claiming that what they were doing was legal and that they had the licence to do it.

Both parties then lodged reports at the Seapark police station.

Kuah said he was accompanied by Yap and five MBPJ councillors.

“Our statements were taken down and the officers said they would investigate the case,” said Kuah, who stressed that the assault would not deter him from performing his civic duties and keep the area free of illegal posters.

Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San condemned the act and said it was unnecessary to resort to violence on civilians.

“I hope the council’s enforcement officers will buck up and clean up the city soon. If they’re unable to clean the city of such illegal posters, I’ll propose the clean-up campaign which I organised in my constituency to the MBPJ,” Lau said.

He had recently organised a two-month campaign to take down illegal commercial banners in the Kampung Tunku constituency and to empower the people to take care of their area.

Lau said those who wanted to put up posters and buntings around the city should do through the proper channels.

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