OKU alleges ‘assault’ by MCA women

A partially-disabled charity worker claims that she was shoved by two party members when she was attempting to help single mothers

PETALING JAYA: A partially disabled woman working for several charity causes claimed that she was ‘assaulted’ by two other ladies at an MCA branch in Kepong.

Shirley Tay, 48, is also an MCA member but prefers to be known for her work with the poor, the mentally challenged and drug rehabilitators.

Tay began helping the less fortunate after a brain tumour left her semi paralysed more than a decade ago.

The ‘assault’ happened last Wednesday when Tay went to the Kepong MCA branch to hand MyKasih application forms to a group of single mothers.

MyKasih is a charity programme to help low income earners.

“While I was there, this lady started shouting at me. She told those present that I was using MCA to cheat people of money,” Tay told FMT at her ‘operations base’ in a low cost flat in Kepong, surrounded by her supporters.

Tay claimed that the woman then tossed away a file and handphone belonging to her and pushed her to the ground. “I got up and sat myself on a plastic chair to defy her actions.”

Tay said those who knew her tried to help but were warned by the woman to stay aside or they would lose out on getting a free sewing machine at the programme.

“It was like a nightmare for me. I was then pulled by another lady and the first woman pushed away my chair and I fell again, ” Tay claimed.

‘I did not cause the fall’

Tay said that she suffered bruised arm when she tried to break her fall, which she showed FMT, but was not badly hurt otherwise.

“Thank God my spinal cord was not damaged or who would look after my seven-year-old son?”

“I fight for the rights of the less fortunate every day but now I have to fight for my own. How can those with power just bully the weak like us?”

Asked if why the women would act violently, Tay said one woman was probably jealous of her good work and the other was the friend.

Tay, who has lodged a report, urged police to act as she had several witnesses to the incident. She also asked MCA not to cover up this case.

Meanwhile, when contacted, one of the woman Tay identified as her ‘assailant’ Lee Chong Meng denied mishandling Tay.

Instead, Lee who is the Kepong MCA secretary claimed that Tay was acting when she fell from the chair.

“She just came in to disrupt us during a sewing class. She came late so we wanted her to go outside,” she said.

“But she sat on the chair and purposely slipped and landed on the floor. She even got up and drove away.”

“I’m 68 years already, yes I touched her to lead her out but I deny causing her to fall,” said Lee.