The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has issued statistics to dispute claims that its officers practised racial discrimination during raids on illegal businesses or demolition of unlawful structures.

According to the figures provided by MBPP, its officers have carried out enforcement on 305 individuals from Jan to April this year.

Based on overall racial breakdown, MBPP had acted against 103 Malays (34 percent), 158 Chinese (52 percent), 31 Indians (10 percent) and 13 others (four percent).

Action was taken against 109 illegal traders, 53 Malays, Chinese (40), Indians (14) and others (two), the MBPP said.

MBPP officers acted on dirty premises involving three Malays, Chinese (seven), Indian (one) and others (none).

They demolished illegal structures involving five Malays, Chinese (26), Indian (one) and others (none).

The statistics showed that MBPP also took action on illegal barriers put up by 41 Malays, Chinese (76), Indian (15), and others (11).

The council also acted on illegal hotels involving one Malay and five Chinese, and four Chinese entertainment outlets.

MBPP officers were accused of practising racism after they carried out a raid on illegal traders in Tanjung Tokong on Thursday night.

Angered by the move, two traders hijacked a MBPP lorry, drove it to the police station in Pulau Tikus and lodged a report against the council.

The duo were seen spewing vulgar words against the officers in a video clip which went viral on social media.

They have since been detained by police and probed for “using force to instil fear in public officers while they were on duty”.

Yesterday, MBPP secretary Yew Tung Siang denied that his officers carried out raids on illegal traders or demolition of unlawful structures based on race.

“No such thing as racism, we take action regardless of race. Anyone who breaks the law has to face the music,” Yew had told Malaysiakini.