Penang critic claims state security assaulted him

Ong Eu Soon, a vocal critic of the Pakatan Rakyat government, claimed he was physically assaulted by several men wearing the state’s voluntary patrol unit uniforms in Farlim, Penang, last night.

Ong said the attack took place about 10.45pm while he was attending a Chinese temple dinner held in front of the Farlim market.

“Suddenly, several men wearing the voluntary patrol unit (PPS, Pasukan Patrol Sukarela) approached me and attacked me with their helmets,” Ong said in a police report he lodged at the Bandar Baru police station.

The report was received by Corporal Ravesh Nair Prabagaran at 11.05pm last night.

“I was kicked and punched, there are bruises on my body, my eyes are swollen and my spectacles were broken,” he added.

“It was the public who eventually came between us and stopped their attacks,” said Ong, 51, without specifying how many men attacked him.

Ong immediately lodged a report and urged the police to probe the matter thoroughly and act promptly on his aggressors.

PCM comes to aid

Meanwhile, Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-chairperson Huan Cheng Guan, who is assisting Ong in the matter, said the state government should disband the PPS if it could not control the team.

“How come a uniform unit beats people up? I urge police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi and the Home Ministry to look into this matter seriously,” Huan (right) told Malaysiakini.

Ong is known for questioning the state government on environmental and development issues, including reclamation exercises, hill slope development, the state’s transportation policies and traffic woes and the feasibility study of the proposed RM3.6 billion undersea tunnel that will link the island to Butterworth.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng continues to defend the project, which includes three connecting highways, saying it was awarded by an open tender to Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd.

Penang executive councillor for welfare and caring society Phee Boon Poh said, “Since a police report has been lodged, we will let the police investigate.”

DAP Paya Terubong assemblyperson Yeoh Soon Hin, who looks after the constituency where the incident took place, is expected to hold a press conference on the matter.

When contacted, Northeast district police deputy chief Supt Rahman Abdul said nobody has been arrested yet.

“We are looking for these unidentified men. The victim also did not specify how many were involved in attacking him,” Rahman said.

He said the case is being investigated under Section 147 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt.

Malaysiakini