Don’t bully daughter of beer promoter’s bully, says Teo

PETALING JAYA: The public are urged not to victimise the child of the hypermarket shopper who berated a beer promoter after Malaysians dug out his identity.

Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said the public should also not share pictures or details of the child, such as his or her school.

“School is for all children. We should not allow any student to be discriminated against or bullied,” she posted on Facebook yesterday.

“Let’s end hatred and not bring it (into) the school.”

Teo said what the shopper did was uncalled for, and the promoter did not deserve such treatment.

“So, let’s learn from the (beer promoter) and not repeat the mistake of (the shopper),” she said.

Separately, Wanita MCA lodged a police report against the man yesterday.

Its chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie said Wanita MCA was disappointed racial issues and violence against women were still happening in the New Malaysia era.

“Wanita MCA wants to stress that we will not tolerate any acts of bullying towards women.

“We urge the authorities to act against the man and to carry out an investigation under Section 298A in the Penal Code and Subsection 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948,” said Heng in a statement yesterday

Heng praised the promoter for her calm handling of the crisis, and also advised Malaysians to practise modesty to preserve harmony, peace and national unity.

In a viral video clip, the shopper was seen berating the beer promoter for giving out beer samples in the non-halal section of a hypermarket in Ampang.

Although the shopper scolded her and demanded to know if she was promoting the beer to “anyone”, including Muslims, the promoter remained calm.

He also criticised her and insisted that she speak in Bahasa Melayu because this was “Bumi Melayu”.

The shopper then made an obscene hand gesture and spewed vulgarities at the promoter before walking away while she could be heard saying: “You are hilarious.”

Many have since condemned the shopper’s actions and praised the girl for standing up to him.

His identity and personal details were later shared on social media via WhatsApp, including information on his wife and child.

Social activist Syed Azmi Alhabshi said while nobody condoned the shopper’s behaviour, it was not right for people to leak his personal information or throw profanities at him and his family.

“And now, it has gone to matters which could harm his child’s privacy and protection,” he said.

It is believed the shopper’s child studies in a Chinese school here.

Syed Azmi said like the promoter, the child was innocent and yet, the public was bashing the shopper and his family online.

“Let us not go beneath his behaviour,” he said.

He said several Malay parents who send their children to Chinese vernacular schools expressed concern over how this incident might affect their children.

“They are concerned about the kind of impact it would have on their children,” he said.

Syed Azmi said the public should be there to help the shopper be a better person instead of bashing him online.