[UPDATED] Shocking videos capture MBPJ officers’ alleged attack on elderly man

KUALA LUMPUR – An incident of alleged assault by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) officers on an unsuspecting elderly man and his pet dogs has gone viral. 

In a series of video clips that was first posted on Facebook and has now been circulated on WhatsApp, a resident of the area shared a troubling account of the alleged attack, which took place at night a few days ago. 

Noting that the altercation happened in Jalan 18/17 Taman Kanagapuram, the resident claimed about six to seven MBPJ officers were “assaulting an old man”. 

“The officer was threatening and using an iron rod to hit the old man when he tried to block them from capturing and injuring his dogs. 

“I told them this is not the right way to carry out their duties, and the officer responded, ‘kita government, memang begini buat kerja’ (we are government officers, this is how we do our work). 

“Not one person in their team questioned or stopped the other officer from violating the old uncle who was all alone when the incident took place,” the resident wrote. 

According to the resident, the elderly man said the officers did not explain their intention and failed to present any official identification prior to their physical attacks on him, causing him to suffer a swollen jaw and cuts on his wrist. 

“I have seen this uncle and his dogs for years. He brings them all out for a walk twice a day and takes good care of them by feeding them and providing shelter at his own expense. 

“These dogs are harmless, and even if mistakes were committed by (the uncle), physically or verbally abusing anyone in the name of power is a hard no. 

“This is a classic example of power abuse in the name of duty. Hooligans in the name of government officers,” the resident added. 

Based on checks by The Vibes, the 69-year-old man has since lodged a police report at a police station on Jalan Klang Lama and provided the authorities with footage from the CCTV camera.  

Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung said MBPJ should thoroughly and transparently conduct its investigations on the incident and any potential code of conduct breach by enforcement personnel. 

“More fundamentally, we have to review the standard operating procedures when dealing with community cats and dogs,” the PKR lawmaker told The Vibes.

“As mentioned by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Malaysia Madani concept requires us to treat animals respectfully and justly.” 

He also said that the possibility of the elderly citizen violating any laws “does not warrant the alleged physical assault” and confirmed that PJ residents are required to obtain dog permits that must be renewed annually. 

In a statement later, Lee said his office has issued a letter to MBPJ’s integrity unit requesting for clarity on the SOPs used by council officers when conducting dog captures.

Besides that, DAP’s PJ city councillor Nalina Nair told The Vibes that the incident “should not have happened”, noting that MBPJ’s Health Department has started an investigation and will be releasing a statement soon. – The Vibes, March 24, 2023