KUALA LUMPUR – The death of A. Ganapathy while in police custody has renewed debate on racial discrimination by members of the force.
While former inspector-general of police Tan Sri Musa Hassan has insisted policemen do not discriminate along racial lines, three Indian men beg to differ.
Random urine test on the street
Law graduate Vimal Subramanian, 28, is well-versed in police procedures.
He recalled being remanded by the authorities while waiting for his father in Bangsar in 2018.
“I believe I was targeted because I was a dark-skinned Indian standing next to my motorcycle,” Vimal told The Vibes on the incident that took place in Jalan Maarof.
“The police officers then told me to perform a urine test.
“As a law graduate, I knew they couldn’t do that and that it was wrong,” he said.
After denying their request, he was then asked to stand still as they performed a pat-down search, which Vimal also contends is unlawful.
“They then wanted to take me to the police station, despite not having a lawful reason to do so.
“I told them they were wrong, and that I will call my elder brother before following the officers to the police station. Only then did they leave me alone,” Vimal said.
One day in lock-up for filming video
When 26-year-old Eugene Daniel went to a mamak restaurant to watch a late-night football match, he didn’t expect to spend the day after that in lock-up.
Eugene, who is also a law graduate, was at the eatery about 11.30pm with a friend when a group of Indian men who alighted from tinted Toyota Alphards and a BMW entered.
“We thought they were gangsters; basically, we stereotyped them,” Eugene said.
The group of men then seated themselves 15m behind Eugene. He added that a group of police officers were also dining there at the time.
“The group of men started shouting, and the next thing I saw when I turned my back was a man lifting a chair to hit someone else in his group.
“Their friends tried to stop the fight, as well as the police officers,” Eugene said.
However, things became more heated and the police attempted to detain the men.
By this time, a crowd had gathered while Eugene began filming the incident on his phone.
“The police approached me after one of the detained men shouted that I was taking a video.
“They took my MyKad and phone, and I was asked to follow them,” he added.
Eugene was taken to a parked car, where he was allegedly taunted by the police for recording the incident.
He was then handcuffed, placed in the back of a police car and taken to the Damansara police station.
“Other officers in the station asked me what happened and, after I explained, they continued taunting me,” he said.
Eugene then thought it was best for him to inform his friend, who then alerted Eugene’s father.
“I was taken to the police station at 2am on Sunday and released at 6pm.
“Before that, I was taken to another station to meet an investigating officer who talked to my father and said everything is okay and that I will be released.
“He said what I did was wrong and I apologised because I just wanted to be released.”
Indian man in a big car, in front of a big house
A netizen who requested anonymity said he was warming up his car about 4am when a police patrol car stopped and asked what he was doing.
“You’re an Indian in front of a big house, and also in a big car,” one of the officers was alleged to have said.
They demanded his MyKad, which he refused to surrender, then threatened to detain him.
“They said they would arrest me, so I said go ahead, and reminded them that sometimes, the folk in big houses are lawyers.
“They drove off. Mind you, I was even dressed in office attire.” – The Vibes, May 7, 2021
