JOHOR BARU: Police have recorded the statement of the suspect involved in the slapping incident of a non-Muslim man at a convenience store in a shopping mall during Ramadan.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar said that the victim's statement had been recorded, and the individual was sent to the hospital for medical examination.
“Statements from the suspect and witnesses, including the suspect’s child, have also been taken.
“We believe we will refer the investigation papers to the Deputy Public Prosecutor in the near future, likely before this Friday (March 21).
“I have also instructed that a doctor’s statement be recorded before submitting the investigation papers for further instructions and advice,” he said during a press conference at the Iskandar Puteri district police headquarters on Tuesday (March 18).
Comm Kumar added that the suspect, a 65-year-old local, and the victim, also a local, were involved in an isolated incident.
He urged the public not to speculate on the matter or take the law into their own hands.
“This is not a common occurrence in our country. Malaysia is known for its high level of tolerance among different races and religions. We respect one another, and it is important to maintain this harmony,” he said.
He reminded the public to channel any relevant information to the authorities rather than resorting to personal action.
“There are responsible authorities to handle such issues. As responsible members of society, our duty is to report matters to the authorities rather than taking action ourselves,” he added.
Earlier, Johor Baru North OCPD Asst Comm Balveer Singh was reported as saying that police were investigating an incident where a non-Muslim man was scolded and slapped while eating at a convenience store in a shopping mall during Ramadan.
He added that police had detected a video on X (frormerly known as Twitter) showing a verbal altercation between two men at a business premises.
“A 21-year-old local man lodged a police report at 9.08pm on Sunday. Investigations revealed that the incident occurred at around 3.45pm that day at a shopping mall here.
“The victim alleged that he was slapped twice on the right cheek by an unknown man.
“The case is being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt,” he added.
On Sunday, two videos lasting 32 seconds and 44 seconds, respectively, on the alleged incident went viral on social media.
