Bersatu, Umno leaders want action over 'disabled' man assault

Summary

• Bersatu and Umno politicians express support for a man with purported intellectual disabilities who was assaulted at a market in Kemaman, Terengganu.

• They urge authorities to arrest and charge all those involved in attacking the victim.

• Umno Youth offers free legal assistance to the victim.

Politicians from across the divide have rallied behind a man, purportedly with an intellectual disability, who was assaulted following an accident in Kemaman, Terengganu, on Friday.

Kemaman Bersatu Youth chief Aziman Hadi Nazri described what happened to the victim as inhumane and against religious teachings and the law.

“The victim who is categorised as a mental disability patient should have been protected instead of being assaulted.

“We urge the authorities to investigate this incident transparently and take strict action against those responsible under Section 147 of the Penal Code.

“The perpetrators must receive punishment that is proportionate to their action so this incident can serve as a lesson to the public to not take matters into their own hands,” said Aziman (above), who is also a supreme council member, in a statement today.

‘Treated like an animal’

Meanwhile, Umno Youth has offered free legal assistance to the victim and promised to see the case through until the perpetrators face justice.

In announcing this, its chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh condemned the attackers, calling them cowards.

“It was very sad to see the victim being treated like an animal. How could they kick him in the face and drag the victim on the road? Don’t these people have any humanity?

“Couldn’t they see that the victim is an intellectually disabled person? Even if he is not, why would you want to beat him up like that?

“If you are really a man, this is not how you do it. Come let me teach you how a man should act. I have ordered the Umno Youth exco and our wing’s lawyer to find the victim to offer him free legal assistance,” Akmal said in a video on Facebook yesterday.

The Umno leader believed more than three men were involved in the incident and assured justice would be served.

“We want to make sure that all those involved, I believe there are more than three, will be punished by the law,” he added.

Two days ago, a video went viral showing a group of men assaulting a motorcyclist after he crashed his bike into a food stall at the Padang Astaka Chukai Farmers’ Market.

Following this, police reportedly arrested three men aged between 18 and 60 to facilitate investigations.

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