Home Minister: Action will be taken against those who beat up bodyguards for fasting

PUTRAJAYA: Stern action will be taken against those who had allegedly assaulted two bodyguards for fasting, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

“If at all the incident (assault) happened because of fasting, stern action will be taken. The bodyguards are Muslims and they are required by the religion to observe fasting during Ramadan.

“Why is it wrong for them to fast?” Hamzah asked on Thursday (April 15).

He said that police have been ordered to investigate the matter and to get to the bottom of the case.

Four men were remanded for five days beginning Thursday to assist the investigation into the alleged assault of two bodyguards.

Those remanded are aged between 38 and 46, and were employees of a man who had allegedly assaulted the two bodyguards because he did not like them fasting.

Earlier, Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Zainal Abdullah said that the main suspect in the assault case has been remanded until April 17.

A report on the incident was lodged on April 14, where the complainant, a 26-year-old bodyguard, claimed that he was with his colleague at a condominium on Jalan Pinang in Kuala Lumpur when the suspect asked if they were fasting.

When they responded that they were, he was believed to have gotten angry and slapped the complainant.

ACP Mohamad Zainal was reported to have said that the complainant and his colleague then followed the suspect to his house at Batu Nilam, Klang where he allegedly beat them with a cane.

On another matter, Hamzah said police personnel who commit crime will be charged in court, aside from their activities being investigated under the Police Act.

“Anyone who commits a crime will be taken to court to face charges, and police personnel are no exception.

“At the same time, the Integrity and Standards Compliance Department will look into their wrongdoings to decide the punishment, be it a demotion or sacking, ” he said when commenting on the arrests of a police inspector and three other policemen for allegedly extorting money from a furniture factory manager in Batu Pahat.