FATHER’S PLEA- 'Forgive my son’s indecent and rude act on Merdeka eve'
KUALA LUMPUR-“I SINCERELY apologise on behalf of my son. I don’t know what got into him.” Those were the conciliatory words of a father whose son had gained notoriety for exposing his buttocks and stepping on the photographs of the prime minister, his wife and a top government official during a Merdeka Day eve gathering.
In issuing the apology yesterday, the man from Batu Pahat, Johor, said his family was in a state of shock and disbelief at what the 19-year-old college student did.
“I know my son. He is a good boy who is hardworking and respectful. We suspect he was carried away with the mood at the event, and spurred on by others, did what he did,” the father told the New Straits Times in a telephone interview.
He then apologised to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof.
The man said his son was not involved in any political movement and the family believed that he did not mean to insult anyone.
“This is an example why youngsters should choose their friends carefully and think before they act,” he said.
The father of two also expressed his family’s hope that Najib would forgive the teenager.
“My son is still young and has a long way to go. I hope he will be given a second chance and allowed to continue his studies.” The teenager is a Creative Multimedia student at Cybernetics International College of Technology in Taman Maluri, Cheras.
It was reported that his family turned him in to the authorities on Tuesday after seeing his photograph on television and in newspapers, exposing his buttocks while squatting over the photographs of Najib, Rosmah and Aziz at Dataran Merdeka last Thursday.
Police recorded his statement and released him on bail pending further investigations.
Meanwhile, police yesterday said two other teenagers -- a college student and a part-time model -- surrendered to police after their photographs were published in newspapers.
They are wanted for allegedly stepping on Najib's photograph at Dataran Merdeka during the same event.
The part-time model, also 19, surrendered to Johor Baru police yesterday morning, accompanied by her lawyer. She was handcuffed and brought to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters, here, for questioning.
Another teenager, a 19-year-old college student, also surrendered to Dang Wangi police at 1pm yesterday. He is also being investigated for allegedly stepping on the prime minister's photograph.
At a press conference yesterday evening, city deputy CID chief Assistant Commissioner Aziz Zakaria said police were looking for two others who stepped on the prime minister's photograph and three others who allegedly demanded that the Jalur Gemilang be replaced with another flag.
Aziz said police had also contacted Bersih steering committee members Maria Chin Abdullah, Hishamuddin Rais, Preservation of Jalan Sultan Committee chairman Stanley Yong, Batu member of parliament Tian Chua and Pas deputy president Mohamad Sabu to have their statements recorded.
"We have issued them a notice under Section 111 of the Criminal Procedure Code. We are giving them until tomorrow (Thursday) to come forward.
"Failing to do so, warrants of arrest will be issued against them," said Aziz, adding that national laureate Datuk A. Samad Said had also been summoned to have his statement recorded.
Police have so far received more than 172 reports on complaints against several incidents which occurred during the Merdeka Day eve gathering at Dataran Merdeka.
- New Straits Times
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