A RESTAURANT manager was left counting his losses after a group of men, claiming to be Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) members, thrashed his eatery and assaulted two of his workers on Monday. The reason? They were asked to pay for their meal. The manager, who only wished to be known as Thomas, said that 10 men first came to the restaurant in Jalan Tun Sambanthan on Sunday.
“Upon entering, they asked my workers to bring them food as they said that they were hurt, tired and hungry.
“Naturally, we accorded them the same respect and service given to other customers,” he said.
However, Thomas said that when the men finished their meal, one of them left the restaurant without settling his bill while the others followed suit.
“One of my workers, upon realising that the men were leaving without paying, which came up to RM89, had stopped them and asked them to pay,” he said.
The men, Thomas said, became enraged at the worker’s request and announced that they were Hindraf members.
“They claimed that as they were fi ghting for Indian rights, they should be served food without being expected to pay for it,” he said, adding that the group created a commotion. Not wishing to prolong the trouble, Thomas intervened and apologised on behalf of his worker.
“I told them that they could leave the restaurant without paying. I did not want them to create trouble and disturb my other customers,” he said.
Before the men left, one of them threatened the worker who had asked them to pay and told him to “watch out”.
“I did not expect anything further,” said Thomas. He was wrong. The group returned the following day at 7.30pm, this time in two cars — a Toyota Hilux and a Naza Ria. Thomas claimed he saw them enter the restaurant but chose not to do anything.
“I didn’t want to stop them as I wanted to give them the benefi t of the doubt. It would be rude to tell them that they were not welcome.
“Again, we treated them like any other customer and served their order,” he said.
However, after finishing their food, two of the men pulled out a parang and a metal rod and stood guard at the restaurant’s front and rear entrance.
“They called for the worker who had asked them to pay the bill the day before. When they couldn’t find him, they began assaulting two other workers,” Thomas claimed.
The men broke five tables, 10 chairs and ruined the food. They then left in the cars.
Thomas said he sent the injured workers to Pantai Hospital.
One worker received 12 stitches for a slash wound on his head while the other, who was hit on his hand with the rod, needed follow-up treatment yesterday.
Brickfields police chief Assistant Commissioner Sulaiman Junaidi said police received a call on the incident but by the time they arrived, the suspects had fled.
“We have yet to identify the suspects, who are believed to be in their 30s and 40s. However, our investigation showed the Naza Ria had a fake registration number,” he said.
Sulaiman said the restaurant manager had lodged a police report on the second incident but there was no report on the first incident.
The case is being investigated under Section 148 of the Penal Code for rioting with weapons.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Eatery smashed, workers beaten
KUALA LUMPUR: A group of men claiming to be Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters helped themselves to a hearty meal at a restaurant in Brickfields on two consecutive days and left without paying.
The men destroyed furniture and kitchen equipment, causing losses amounting to RM5,000.
They also slashed a worker with a parang and injured the right arm of another with an iron rod.
Numbering between eight and 10, they first turned up at the restaurant in Jalan Tun Sambanthan at about 3pm on Sunday.
They insisted that they should eat for free as they were Hindraf supporters fighting for the rights of Hindus.
The men, aged between 20 and 35, turned up again at about 7.30pm on Monday and helped themselves to the food.
They then went on a rampage, destroying 20 tables and kitchen equipment and attacked the two workers before fleeing in two vehicles.
Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Sulaiman Junaidi said one worker received 12 stitches while the other sustained a swollen arm. Both are Indian citizens.
Three customers in the restaurant at the time were unharmed.
The restaurant owner, who declined to be named, said the men claimed to be Hindraf supporters, became aggressive and refused to pay the bill.
“Food was strewn everywhere and two men guarded the front and back doors of the restaurant with a parang to threaten customers,” he said, adding that they had also assaulted the other restaurant workers.
Monday, November 26, 2007
No need for street protests
KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said people should use existing forums to voice their problems and not resort to street protests.
The MIC and Government would not support street demonstrations as a way of resolving problems, he said in a statement.
The party was aware of the issues and problems confronting the Indian community “but street protest is not the answer,” he added, commenting on the Hindraf street protest yesterday.
The Works Minister said the MIC had been working “within the system” and it had proven to be successful.
“We have resolved many problems and issues through consultation and dialogues with the Government without resorting to street demonstrations,” he said.
He said issues of education, the economy and social issues had been resolved through direct consultation with the Federal, state and local governments.
“There are some matters that has to be done behind closed doors as they involved sensitive matters but the Government has always been supportive,” Samy Vellu said.
“The leadership of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been very supportive and sympathetic towards our cause,” he said.
On the Hindraf gathering, he alleged that the opposition was be-hind it.
“It is a ploy to smear the name of the Government in the eyes of the world,” he added.
Source: TheStar.com.my
Cop hurt trying to control crowd
KUALA LUMPUR: A police officer was injured when he was hit on the head with stones and broken bottles during The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) street protest yesterday.
The attack on Dang Wangi CID sub-inspector Chew Choon Peng has left him with two gashes on his head with 12 stitches.
He is also suffering from bruises on his arms, shoulders and legs.
Chew was given outpatient treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. He is recuperating at his home in Cheras.
“A fellow officer was attempting to arrest a rowdy protester who was making derogatory remarks at our squad of 15 officers stationed in Jalan Hampshire.
“All hell broke loose when the protestor resisted arrest and I stepped in to help. The next thing I knew there was a sharp stinging pain on my head, and then I fell down,” he said.
He commended his colleagues for quickly controlling the situation and dragging him away from the 200-odd protesters who had begun hurling motorcycle helmets and bricks at the retreating team of policemen.
But the violence fizzled out as quickly as it had started and the protesters, too, retreated in the opposite direction towards Jalan Semarak.
Several of Chew’s colleagues were also seen limping, and others clutching their arms in pain after the short attack. They then bandaged Chew’s head as he was bleeding profusely.
The attack on Dang Wangi CID sub-inspector Chew Choon Peng has left him with two gashes on his head with 12 stitches.
He is also suffering from bruises on his arms, shoulders and legs.
Chew was given outpatient treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. He is recuperating at his home in Cheras.
“A fellow officer was attempting to arrest a rowdy protester who was making derogatory remarks at our squad of 15 officers stationed in Jalan Hampshire.
“All hell broke loose when the protestor resisted arrest and I stepped in to help. The next thing I knew there was a sharp stinging pain on my head, and then I fell down,” he said.
He commended his colleagues for quickly controlling the situation and dragging him away from the 200-odd protesters who had begun hurling motorcycle helmets and bricks at the retreating team of policemen.
But the violence fizzled out as quickly as it had started and the protesters, too, retreated in the opposite direction towards Jalan Semarak.
Several of Chew’s colleagues were also seen limping, and others clutching their arms in pain after the short attack. They then bandaged Chew’s head as he was bleeding profusely.
Source: TheStar.com.my
Dato' Seri S. Samy is willing to meet HINDRAF to resolve Indian community issues
MIC President Dato' Seri S. Samy Vellu is willing to meet the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF), to iron out Indian community issues and unresolved matters.
HINDRAF, a non-governmental organisation said to be aligned to an an opposition party submitted an 18 page memorandum to the Prime Minister's office last Sunday on what it alleged as the marginalisation of the Indians by the government.
Dato' Seri Samy rebutted allegations made by HINDFRA that the goverment had neglected Tamil schools.
He said of the 523 Tamil schools in the country, 180 are fully-aided schools, while the remaining were partially - aided, of which 66 schools have been rebuilt through government and private funding.
On temples being demolished, Dato' Seri Samy said only temples that were built or extended on private land whithout government approvals were demolished.
Source: http://besonline.rtm.net.my/
Don't jump to conclusions, says PM
KAMPALA (UGANDA): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has urged the public not to jump to conclusions and view police action against three members of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) as racial in nature.
"It has nothing to do with race. People should stop linking or viewing everything that happens in the country as a racial matter," he said.
He added that people should not be too quick to make such unfounded claims.
"Those who commit offences will have to face charges," Abdullah told Malaysian journalists at the end of the first day of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting here.
Abdullah, who is also the Internal Security Minister, said police had evidence to charge the three men for making seditious statements and speeches.
The police have been monitoring the activities of the three men and their group for a while now, he said.
"We have to take action if these people have clearly committed offences," said Abdullah, adding that the arrest and charging of the three members had no connection with the planned gathering by Hindraf outside the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
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