Family members of Lim Chin Aik, a fisherman who died after allegedly being beaten up by a mob of over 30 people, have urged authorities to expedite their murder investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

Lim, from Kuala Sepetang, Perak, died on Sept 16 at the Hospital Raja Permaisuri in Ipoh - six days after being warded for multiple injuries from the alleged beatings.

Their request was handed over to the police in a memorandum addressed to inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar at Bukit Aman headquarters this morning.

Kuala Sepetang assemblyperson Chua Yee Ling, who accompanied the family members, told Malaysiakini that police should expedite and reveal details of its investigation on the case.

This, she said, was following the reported arrests of four individuals in Manjong, Perak, to assist with police investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

“From the beginning they (family members) have requested for updates on investigations, after they had lodged a police report. Unfortunately the police did not agree to do so.

“The family have also requested to view the CCTV footage at a petrol station (where the incident allegedly took place) but they were not allowed to do so as investigations are ongoing,” said Chua.

Chua also spoke on behalf of Chin Aik’s older sister, Lim Sok Imm, who said that his death was a big loss to the family as he was their sole breadwinner.

“He has five children, aged between six months to six years old,” said Sok Imm, adding that he also left behind his Vietnamese wife, Pham Yinxie.

According to a Sinar Harian report of the incident, Chin Aik was on the way home in a taxi from Sitiawan to Kuala Sepetang, Perak, on Sept 5 when he discovered that his handphone and wallet were missing.

An argument allegedly occurred between him and the taxi driver, prompting the taxi driver to stop at a BHP petrol station along Batu 13 Segari, near Manjung.

It was alleged that more than 30 people had surrounded him and beaten him up on site.

Chua earlier revealed the family was informed by officers from the Manjung district police station on Sept 9 that the taxi driver had also lodged a report against Chin Aik.

She said the family members were told the taxi driver had claimed to fear for his safety and dropped Chin Aik off at the petrol station, as he was allegedly drunk and had initiated a fight.

As such, she urged the police to hold a special briefing session for family members, to update them on progress of investigations on both police reports related to the case.