Cops criticised for probing man alleging police inaction on gambling dens
Police are looking for the owner of a burger stall chain who drove around Sungai Buloh pointing out the authorities' alleged inaction against gambling dens in a Facebook video which had gone viral.
The owner, who goes by the name "Asri Janggut" on Facebook, also claimed reports he made to the police about the gambling dens were later leaked back to the gambling dens operators.
Sungai Buloh district police chief Shafa'aton Abu Bakar said a police report was lodged by a senior police officer and the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) on grounds that the video could be defamatory and tarnish their image.
Asri was upset at MBSA after they confiscated one of his stalls which he...
Police are looking for the owner of a burger stall chain who drove around Sungai Buloh pointing out the authorities' alleged inaction against gambling dens in a Facebook video which had gone viral.
The owner, who goes by the name "Asri Janggut" on Facebook, also claimed reports he made to the police about the gambling dens were later leaked back to the gambling dens operators.
Sungai Buloh district police chief Shafa'aton Abu Bakar said a police report was lodged by a senior police officer and the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) on grounds that the video could be defamatory and tarnish their image.
Asri was upset at MBSA after they confiscated one of his stalls which he claimed was located at an unobstructed pavement in Sungai Buloh.
Taking viewers on a tour of the area in his car, he pointed out another stall just across the street from his burger stall selling mineral water, which he claimed was a front.
"That mineral water store is actually a store selling smuggled cigarette. It's not something that happened for two days, it has been there for years.
"MBSA had never touched nor disturb them," he said.
Asri, who described himself as the founder and executive director of Hot Burger Malaysia, said he was not disputing the enforcement action but questioned the alleged double standards.
He then highlighted stalls occupying parking spaces and questioned MBSA's inaction before driving to a nearby commercial and industrial area where he pointed out several outlets which he claimed were gambling dens.
Asri claimed he had reported the gambling dens to the police before which led to a very brief closure before they resumed operations.
Subsequently, he said certain individuals had questioned his burger stall staff if they had made a complaint against the gambling dens.
"How could the gambling dens towkays know that it was me who lodged the complaint? How?
"How could they know if it was not because of corruption or an insider who told them?" he asked.
Asri went on to call for the MACC's intervention in the alleged shielding of gambling dens by the authorities, adding that he hoped that the matter would also get the attention of Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador.
The video, uploaded yesterday on Hot Burger Malaysia's Facebook page garnered over 4.3 million views and almost 70,000 shares.
Asri also urged the public to share the video, saying that he feared that the gambling den towkays will harm or even kill him after exposing them on the internet.
The video appeared to capture Hamid's attention on the same day and he promised to take action.
Asri, in a separate Facebook post, thanked the top cop for his attention.
However, the local police in Sungai Buloh today announced that they intend to question Asri, prompting some netizens to ask why the complainant was the one being investigated.
"In the end, the people who act as the eyes and ears of the police are the one who is blamed while the offender is left off," said Maya Abdul on Facebook.
"When the public assist, this is what they get. It is better to look out for one own self," added Mohd Insani Abdullah.
Asmaul Husna said: "The police and people are one but when the people make a complaint to facilitate the police's duties, the police look for the one making the complaint.
Puteri Umno chief Zahid Zarik Khan, in a statement, urged the police to provide Asri protection.
"The concern is for the individual and his family's safety as they risk being threatened or even killed.
"The police should provide protection to him and his family and assure their safety," she said.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that police have raided six gambling dens in the vicinity.
"A number of premises that were raided were locked and are believed to have stopped operations for a long time.
"The public who have information about gambling and smuggling activities are asked to provide the information to police," Shafa'aton was quoted as saying.
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