Himpunan Hijau chairperson Wong Tack said Kuantan OCPD Abdul Aziz Salleh may have been “misled” by his officers when he made media statements regarding the fracas outside the Kuantan police district headquarters.
Wong (left) said at the time of the incident, he and the OCPD were together at the building’s third floor and therefore did not witness the fight themselves.
Nevertheless, he said police reports had been lodged over the incident, the culprits’ faces were clearly captured on video, and the investigation should now be allowed to run its course.
“So let the investigation take place, I would rather not make statements. I have a lot of respect for the OCPD, I know he is a gentleman, but he’s got his job to do as a uniformed person.
“I would like to maintain it that way, but I also believe in my people. I know people were hurt and we have captured some faces of the people (alleged attackers) on video...
“Let the people speak the truth, let the investigation go on. I hope the OCPD will do the same because both of us were on the third floor,” Wong told Malaysiakini yesterday.
He said this when asked to comment on Abdul Aziz’s statement on Tuesday regarding an incident on the night of June 23, where a group of about 15 thugs attacked Himpunan Hijau supporters who had gathered outside the police station to show solidarity for 16 anti-Lynas activists arrested earlier that day.
The police district chief reportedly told The Rakyat Post that the attack was likely because Himpunan Hijau supporters had caused a traffic jam in the area, and the thugs also did not like what the NGO stood for.
He also denied that his personnel had prevented the activists from seeking shelter at the police station and reiterated that police had intervened to stop the fighting. In addition, arrests had been made after the activists had lodged police reports.
“The sheer number of people that were pushing the gate caused it to almost break off.
“What my men were doing by holding up the gate was to prevent it from breaking off.
“We were not trying to prevent anyone from seeking shelter in the station, I think there was a big misunderstanding about that matter,” he was quoted as saying.
Previously, a group of Himpunan Hijau activists had approached the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) withcomplaints the police had shut the station’s gates as violence broke out outside, and shoved out those who managed to slip past the gate.
Wong said he was not present at Suhakam that day because he was not an eyewitness, but he believed that their claims are true.
‘OCPD was standing next to the gate’
To a question on how the OCPD reacted when he heard of the fighting, he replied, “I don’t know how the OCPD reacted, but when I came down (from the police station) I saw the OCPD standing next to the gate.
“A lot of people were screaming, yelling and complaining. He was quite calm, he looked at the situation and he advised people to make police reports and he will investigate.”
Wong added that he had met the OCPD the next day to tell him what the Himpunan Hijau activists had faced outside the police station, and was given an assurance that the police will investigate the incident thoroughly and take action.
“I believe in him and I will let him carry out his investigation,” he said.
Wong (left) said at the time of the incident, he and the OCPD were together at the building’s third floor and therefore did not witness the fight themselves.Nevertheless, he said police reports had been lodged over the incident, the culprits’ faces were clearly captured on video, and the investigation should now be allowed to run its course.
“So let the investigation take place, I would rather not make statements. I have a lot of respect for the OCPD, I know he is a gentleman, but he’s got his job to do as a uniformed person.
“I would like to maintain it that way, but I also believe in my people. I know people were hurt and we have captured some faces of the people (alleged attackers) on video...
“Let the people speak the truth, let the investigation go on. I hope the OCPD will do the same because both of us were on the third floor,” Wong told Malaysiakini yesterday.
He said this when asked to comment on Abdul Aziz’s statement on Tuesday regarding an incident on the night of June 23, where a group of about 15 thugs attacked Himpunan Hijau supporters who had gathered outside the police station to show solidarity for 16 anti-Lynas activists arrested earlier that day.
The police district chief reportedly told The Rakyat Post that the attack was likely because Himpunan Hijau supporters had caused a traffic jam in the area, and the thugs also did not like what the NGO stood for.
He also denied that his personnel had prevented the activists from seeking shelter at the police station and reiterated that police had intervened to stop the fighting. In addition, arrests had been made after the activists had lodged police reports.“The sheer number of people that were pushing the gate caused it to almost break off.
“What my men were doing by holding up the gate was to prevent it from breaking off.
“We were not trying to prevent anyone from seeking shelter in the station, I think there was a big misunderstanding about that matter,” he was quoted as saying.
Previously, a group of Himpunan Hijau activists had approached the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) withcomplaints the police had shut the station’s gates as violence broke out outside, and shoved out those who managed to slip past the gate.
Wong said he was not present at Suhakam that day because he was not an eyewitness, but he believed that their claims are true.
‘OCPD was standing next to the gate’
To a question on how the OCPD reacted when he heard of the fighting, he replied, “I don’t know how the OCPD reacted, but when I came down (from the police station) I saw the OCPD standing next to the gate.
“A lot of people were screaming, yelling and complaining. He was quite calm, he looked at the situation and he advised people to make police reports and he will investigate.”
Wong added that he had met the OCPD the next day to tell him what the Himpunan Hijau activists had faced outside the police station, and was given an assurance that the police will investigate the incident thoroughly and take action.
“I believe in him and I will let him carry out his investigation,” he said.
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