We did not provoke the mob, says Low Yat victim

KUALA LUMPUR: A victim of Sunday's Low Yat Plaza brawl has disputed a claim that he provoked the mob which left him and two friends injured and his car smashed.

Freelance salesman Patrick Lim, 21, said he had never uttered racial words when confronted by the mob as he was driving home after supper in Jalan Pudu.

"I had never shouted (at the mob) that the Malays were useless or made any racial remarks during the incident.

"I know of reports alleging that I had shouted but I never said anything racist. I never fought back.

"If you were in my shoes, surrounded by 80 to 100 people, would you dare to shout at them and fight like a superhero?

"I kept silent, I was shocked and I felt helpless," Lim told a press conference which was organised by DAP's Mentakab assemblyman Tengku Zulpuri Shah here on Wednesday.

The press conference was held at the workshop where Lim had sent the car for repairs.

Lim recalled what happened during the attack. He was in his car near Berjaya Times Square and the old Pudu Jail.

"I was driving after supper when we saw a crowd as we were passing near Berjaya Times Square.

"My car does not have central locking, so someone from the crowd opened my door and asked if I was Chinese.

"I didn't answer as my mind was blank. They asked me where I stay. I told him I stay near Ampang and after that he punched me straight away," he said.

"People were attacking us with wood planks, motorcycle locks, hammers and helmets and were breaking the windows of the car and jumping up and down on it.

"I was robbed of my handphone and my wallet when we were attacked," said Lim adding that the whole incident lasted for about 10 minutes until the police arrived.

He said he was pulled out of the car by about five people and dragged for several metres on the road before the policemen arrived and shielded him from further attacks.

"One of my friends, his whole face, hands and arms were covered in blood. He had been kicked in the head by a big-sized man and required surgery on his head and body but he is conscious now and no bones were broken.They treated us like animals," said Lim.

He added that following news of the attack which has gone viral, his insurance company has denied him coverage for the damages he sustained.

But he said he bore no grudges against his attackers even though he was robbed and assaulted.

"Many people asked me why I don't want revenge. It is because I have many Malay friends. I don't want to be a racist.

"We are born in Malaysia. There is no point fighting back. But I hope there will be no more incidents like this. There is no point. We are Malaysians," he said.

Tengku Zulpuri Shah said the attack on Lim should be condemned.

"We are dealing with lives here. It does not matter what race or religion they are. As a Malay and a Muslim I feel embarrassed hearing this story.

"Ramadan is a holy month and youths should be at the mosque or other good places, not out there beating up people," said Tengku Zulpuri.

"Why is this happening to Malaysia? We are all Malaysians together, regardless of race or religion," he said.