LIOW TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT: Stop blaming Rela for 'sarong' issue, says Michael Chong

PETALING JAYA - The public should not point fingers and blame Rela over the “sarong" incident at the Road Transport Department (JPJ) office in Wangsa Maju recently, said Rela honorary deputy commissioner Datuk Seri Michael Chong.

He said the public should wait for the investigations to be completed before passing judgement.

Chong said the Rela personnel who provided the batik sarung to a woman for not "dressing appropriately" must have acted on orders from the JPJ officers.

“Everyone who dons the Rela uniform must follow a Standard Operating Procedure. The personnel cannot act on his own,” he told theSun.

“I pity Rela as it seems to be a victim in this incident,” he said, adding that the matter was blown out of proportion by certain politicians.

On June 8, Suzanne G. L. Tan went to the JPJ Wangsa Maju office to sign a vehicle transfer form and was handed a batik sarong for not "dressing appropriately".

Chong said as the personnel was stationed at the JPJ office, he would only act under the order coming from JPJ.

“The personnel must have received a directive or instruction from JPJ before he took the decision to provide the sarong to Tan,” he said.

“Even the JPJ has issued a formal apology to Tan over the incident. Why should fingers be pointed at Rela?” he said.

Chong said he had met Rela director-general Lukeman Saaid to discuss the matter.

He added the Rela personnel concerned has been reassigned to a desk job until the investigation on the incident is concluded.

“The personnel was only doing his job … If it was a directive then he has to follow,” he said.

“Do we expect the woman to go back to her house to get changed and rush back to the office just to conduct her transaction?” he asked. - Sundaily