Xavier slams red paint attack on green activist

Kuala Langat MP Dr Xavier Jayakumar has condemned the attack on environment activist Pua Lay Peng’s home in Kuala Langat on June 26.

Pua is an activist with the Kuala Langat Environmental Action Group and had earlier received for speaking out against illegal plastic dumping in the Jenjarom area.

Last week, a man entered her residential compound and splashed red paint on the front door and on her older sister who was home.

“This is a very serious attack. It is very important that environmental activists be given a space to operate without fear of intimidation or recrimination,” Xavier told Malaysiakini.

Xavier said that he supports Pua in her efforts to raise these issues and has been urging the Majlis Daerah Kuala Langat to clamp down on those operating illegal plastic waste sites.

Yesterday four men were remanded until Friday at the Magistrate's Court in Telok Datok, Banting.

Police had earlier seized a car, a samurai sword, and a handphone which was used to record the crime, as well as a packet of drugs believed to be syabu when arresting the four.

Three out of the four suspects allegedly confessed to links to Gang 24, saying they had received a sum of money for the attack.

Xavier, who is also Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister, said he could not say too much as it was an ongoing case, but he expressed his wish that it would serve as a warning for people not to take the law into their own hands. - Mkini