Terengganu MCA condemns assault incident against disabled person in Chukai

THE recent assault of a disabled man in Chukai, Terengganu, where the man was brutally beaten and kicked after accidentally crashing into a market stall, remains as an incident that should never have escalated to such violence. This appalling act of mob violence raises crucial questions about how our society treats vulnerable individuals and the responsibility we have to address these issues.

As the police have detained a few suspects, we must emphasise that the perpetrators must be charged accordingly. Assault was involved, and we must not let it be brushed aside. This violent episode was not just an isolated incident; it highlights a broader issue of mob mentality, where people resort to violence rather than finding peaceful resolutions. The public must not, cannot condone or ignore this behaviour, and appropriate legal action must be taken.

In this incident, the man had repeatedly apologised, yet the response was a kick to the head. What prompted this resort to violence? We must be sympathetic towards disabled people. It was a small accident that caused a few items to fall, nothing more than that. Why the attack? Was it because the man was disabled, therefore he was discriminated against? If the man wasn’t disabled, would people still have attacked him? We must treat people with kindness and empathy to foster better communities, not overreact to minor incidents.

Furthermore, as the investigation has been launched, the police have urged the public to stop sharing the video of the assault, warning that they may face charges under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA). However, they offered no further explanation. The CMA prohibits content that is obscene, menacing, or offensive, but this should not apply to the sharing of content that exposes real-world violence. The video serves as an important reminder of the violence that occurred, and the public has a right to be informed.

To restrict the spread of this information could easily be seen as an attempt to suppress awareness and avoid accountability. Instead of discouraging the sharing of the video, the focus should be on using social media to find further evidence and witnesses, so that justice can be served. Moreover, viral videos often reflect the true sentiments of society, sparking conversations that can lead to meaningful change.

This incident must remain in the public eye so that we do not forget the severity of what occurred and the importance of preventing such violence in the future. If we allow such acts of cruelty to go unchallenged, we risk normalising them. Disabled people must be treated fairly.

Datuk Dr Monna Ong Siew Siew

Terengganu MCA Liaison Committee Chairperson

MCA Public Policy and People’s Livelihood Research Advisory Committee Chairperson