‘Cop punched me, hurled racist insult’

The businessman managed to record the melee on his video camera.

VIDEO INSIDE

KUALA LUMPUR: A wireman claimed that he was assaulted by a traffic policeman on Thursday at a roadblock in Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam, and managed to record the scuffle on his digital video camera.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Aw Yuen Wei, 30, said his van was stopped at the roadblock near Jalan Kota Kemuning, and he gave his driver’s licence for inspection.

“One of the policemen told me that it was illegal to load commercial items in my Perodua Rusa. I told him the items were my personal stuff and not for commercial use,” Aw said.

He said the items in his car were electrical wires.

But Aw claimed the policeman was angry at his explanation and started hurling vulgarities at him, even calling him “Cina babi” ( Chinese pig).

Hearing the racist slur, Aw said he lost his temper and started scolding the officer, accusing him of trying to find fault with him to get bribe.

He then re-entered his van when the policeman punched his right shoulder.

Unknown to the officer, Aw’s video recorder was switched on and the entire melee was recorded.

Four-minute clip

Aw claimed that he pushed the officer away and when the latter tried to hurl another blow, Aw took out his camera and told the officer that he got everything recorded.

“The officer immediately backed off,” said Aw, who failed to get the name of the errant cop.

He also claimed that none of the other policemen tried to stop the scuffle.

“One officer came later and told me to settle the matter. However, I refused and ended up with a summons,” he said.

The officer summoned Aw for “salah guna lori dengan membawa barang-barang pendawaian elektrik dan mangga” (misusing his lorry by loading electrical wires and padlocks).

Aw managed to take a picture of his assailant.

When FMT viewed the recording later, the video showed some minor differences.

The four-minute clip showed the traffic officer telling Aw that he should not use a van registered as a private vehicle for commercial purposes.

‘Take disciplinary action’
Aw is seen telling the officer that even the Road Transport Department did not reprimand him for it, but the officer told Aw that does not make an offence legal.

Aw was then seen getting down his van at 1.09 minute and returned at 2.06 minutes, telling the officer not to “make a living like this”. The officer was seen hurling abuses at Aw.

An irate Aw then banged the van’s windscreen, entered his vehicle and shouted “barua punya polis”.

He later opened the van door and shouted “Rasuah punya Malaysia” before slamming it shut again. That was when the officer returned and punched Aw on the right shoulder, asking, “Apa you cakap sama saya?” ( What you said to me).

Aw was then seen pushing away the officer and showed him the video camera indicating that he had the melee recorded.

The wireman lodged a report on the matter yesterday at the Pandan Indah police station.

On a related matter, Aw’s lawyer Keppy Wong said that he would write to the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar and the Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail on the matter.

Wong, who is also the Kampung Cheras Baru branch DAP chairman, said that the authorities must take disciplinary action against the officer.

“The officer must also be investigated not only under the Penal Code for assault but also under the Sedition Act for hurling racist insults,” Wong said.

He added that it was unbecoming of public officials to hurl racist insults against fellow citizens and the matter must be dealt sternly.

“Previously we had racist teachers and principals but now we have racist policemen,” he said.