By Lau Chee Kin
The typical Merdeka Eve night started with an urge to watch the fireworks celebration in KLCC ended up in a racist attack by a group of teenagers. So, me and a friend of mine thought of a good solution to avoid the traffic jam in that area by walking from the office in Jalan Imbi through Pavillion, to Jalan Kia Peng through Convention Center to KLCC.
Sounds like an ideal plan as the path is a frequent walkway and is even advertised in Pavillion as 'Bridge to KLCC'. (Just to note that we didnt go into any dark alley)
At 10.15pm, we started walking towards Pavillion, stopped to get a drink at Starbucks and proceeded ahead. As we walk, we came across people from various races and foreign tourists along the way.
On Jalan Kia Peng, we walked past Novotel Hotel, Hakka Restaurant, Menara HLA and was reaching the junction of Jalan Pinang when a group of about 10 teenage Malay youngsters walking from the opposite direction. They looked like typical youths, giggling and talking to each other.
As we walked past them, suddenly one of them turned around and started to make a flying kick to my friend. Noticing the 'fun' he is having, his other friends started to do the same to me. It was so sudden and all I was thinking at the moment was, "What the hell did we do to them?"
Both of us ended up kneeling on the ground for a moment before more kicks and punches came flying in. Even though both of us had our tripod strapped across our shoulder, we were too shocked to react to it. Eventually one punch landed right on my right forehead and I started to bleed profusely. Seeing that they eventually stopped and walked away.WALKED AWAY, damn it. They were not even afraid to run but just WALKED AWAY like winning a game or something.The last thing I remember hearing from one of them was "Baliklah ke negara asal".
Imagine hearing this statement on Merdeka Eve.
I knew I was bleeding but I didnt know how bad. I could feel the right side of my head swollen and wet but I did not try to look at myself through a mirror. My friend also suffered bruises on the body and face. By that time there were more people walking around us but they did not stop to see what was wrong. I don't blame them, it was a poorly lit area just in front of Menara Pinang. We recovered and continued walking towards the Convention Center. The guards were symphatetic to let us in to use the washroom to clean up. It was then I saw my bloody face.
I did not take a picture of myself then as it is not my intention to send a horror message. This is not a message of sympathy. It's a account of a random person walking on a street.
Eventually after cleaning up, we walked back to the Police Booth in Pavillion to relate the incident. The response from the officer: "This cannot happen, we have all our men on the streets" (Well, not on the street we got beaten up ...)
Apparently informing the police booth stationed in a public area is NOT MAKING A POLICE REPORT. WTF? Apparently we have to go to a Hospital, get some treatment and make a complain/report at the police counter there. I would be dead by then, ain't I?
Is this how the police maintained that they have improved street crimes? By not noting down petty crimes like gang bang which did not result into hospitalization? Would we be taken seriously if only we landed in the hospital?
What we did was, we went back to the office, rested til this morning, went to a nearby clinic to get some bandages and medic.What else to do? I can't identify my assailants, and my wounds are not death-threatening.
If I had not wanted to celebrate Independence Day, would I walk or drive to the venue?
If I was not thirsty would I stop for 5 mins to get my drink and missed them completely?
If I had held my tripod as a defensive weapon earlier, would I save myself or get more beating instead?
If I'm not Chinese, would I get the same 'treatment'?
All I want to say in the end is ...
Forward this to your friends (so that they will be careful on the streets)
Forward this to your 'friendly police' (so that they know the procedure is wrong)
Forward this to any politician/newspaper (so that he/she can be the champion for highlighting this to the government)
UPDATE:
It was not my intention as attention seeking whore. I'm merely highlighting that it could happen to anyone at anywhere when you least expected.
It is wrong to say that we are all patriotic and everyone is following the 1Malaysia concept of togetherness when the roots (our teens) are out portraying the opposite.
This is not political. People messaging to say if we change government or vote for the other party this will not happen.I don't believe so.
This 'low crime rate' statistic is ridiculous when all these 'reports' at Police Booths are unrecorded. What is the function of all these booths being setup all around housing area, public area, etc if these reports must be done at the main police station?
Went to Dang Wangi for an official report of the incident. 15mins to get the report written. The was assigned to an Inspector In-Charge who is still at the old office at Stadium Merdeka. (DangWangi station just moved and the officers are between places) Waited for an hour and got more questions asked. Had pictures of our injuries taken, and was informed that they had some suspects caught for a different beating. I dont think we can identify them as it was dark.
1Malaysia MY HEAD!
written by patlu, September 03, 2010 15:53:31
and that they don't do the same to others.
Two wrongs don't make one right.
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written by SoundMan, September 03, 2010 10:17:29
Started in Tun Razak days the racial polarization with Malaysia.
My advise to my family is stay away from large functions. In Malaysia there is nil crown control and safety is never a sure thing, especially if the louts in Rela are the authority.
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written by BAYANGKARA, September 02, 2010 23:52:19
About 10 years ago in Australia the racist politician, Pauline Hanson and her One Nation party embarked on a racist campaing against Asian immigrants. That led to a noticeable increase in racist abuses and attacks against Asian -looking residents in Australia. The Prime Minister at that time, John Howard, known for his anti-Asian stand, took too long to come out firmly to condemn racism.
A similar situation could be developing in Malaysia and could get worse before it could get better.
Hate mongers would have a field day, encouraged the connivance and tolerance of racism by, of all people, government leaders.
Fortunately, the vast majority of Australians are decent, fair-minded people and they eventually got rid of Hanson and her party after a couple of general elctions. Hanson even went to jail for some electoral fraud.
Najis, if you a true national leader, show your resolve on zero tolerance on racism. Don't allow UMNO and Perkosa to play with fire.
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written by mrcreator, September 02, 2010 21:43:35
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written by lynn, September 02, 2010 21:04:31
You are a born loser. The incident was highlighted in some local media & read by people who had no access to the internet. But I am not about to disclose which paper. You go & nose around yourself ... who knows, you may be an umnotrooper.
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written by Better My, September 02, 2010 17:40:49
You think we have full law and order today?
I say this is tip of the icebeg, Semuaok. We hear crimes being committed all the time. The police are quite ineffectual many years ago. Our nation is just close to lawless. It will only get worse under BeEnd, alot worse when the crunch come - Malaysia bankcruptcy on the economy with no light at the end of the tunnel. It is natural logical progression.
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written by batsman, September 02, 2010 16:58:06
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written by SpeakOut, September 02, 2010 14:59:43
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written by lynn, September 02, 2010 13:55:53
In the first place, what is there to celebrate? Increased racism? I wanted to comment last nite that merdeka is meaningless but i deleted my own comment, And then just now I read your piece. Someone sent sms-es asking me to join in the "celebration" - i told the sender to FCUK off, i told the LOSER to Fly Kite. And I was right...... I was right. You people, instead of celebrating, shld demonstrate your support for the Opposition. Celebrating is joining the racists.... who attacked you.
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written by Semuaok, September 02, 2010 13:40:36
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written by hellosunshine, September 02, 2010 12:02:49
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written by DPG, September 02, 2010 11:14:36
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written by pixieface, September 02, 2010 10:56:09
Inform your children and friends' children to be careful and go out in groups. Better still stay off the streets after 9pm. We cannot rely on those samseng in blue to help us.
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Next I dread to think and hope it's isolated. Mr. Lau please be careful and you should lodge police report with the presence of PR MP as the polis DRM is the guard dogs of perkosa and Ibra ham and toon Kutty Ala Al Paki-melayu celup.
I say this is leading to more hate attacks if nothing is done by the authority.