An opposition MP has called on Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar to expedite justice for three Temiar Orang Asli from Kelantan who may have been wrongly charged as rioters, after they fell victim to mob beatings.

 

DAP MP Ong Kian Meng said he suspected that the police in Gua Musang were “taking revenge” against the trio, after they made a police report last Thursday to Bukit Aman and Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) that they were attacked by up to 100 foreign men late last month.

 

"It is a travesty of justice of the highest nature when the victims of a violent assault are instead being charged for a criminal offense," Ong, the MP for Serdang, said in a press statement.

 

The trio - Itam Anjang, Rahman Uda and Anis Akai – were charged in the Gua Musang magistrate court under Section 148 of the Penal Code, which deals with possession of weapons during a riot.

According to Ong, they were unable to pay the bail yesterday fixed by the judge at RM2,000.

 

The trio were part of six Orang Asli from Kampung Tahu, in Lojing, Kelantan who reported that they were attacked on February 26 while on their way to a community meeting to discuss the problem of foreign workers “disturbing Orang Asli women”.

 

The migrant workers came at them with machetes and sticks and some of the Orang Asli landed in hospital with severe injuries after that.

 

According to Ong, Gua Musang police dissuaded the Orang Asli against making a complaint and accept RM500 compensation from the company, which the migrant workers worked for. The company was also said to be encroaching on the Orang Asli’s customary land.

 

A week later on March 6, they came to Kuala Lumpur to lodge a complaint at the police headquarters at Bukit Aman with the assistance of Bar Council lawyers.

But on March 9, Gua Musang police officers arrested three of them for possessing arms at a riot.

 

"I call upon the IGP to conduct a full investigation into the complaints made against the behaviour of the police in Gua Musang, and to drop all charges.” said Ong.

 

He added that if it was found that the police in Gua Musang acted unprofessionally, disciplinary action must be taken against them.