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KUALA LUMPUR – Netizens condemned the actions of a bodyguard at the high court here who appeared to pull the collar of a man to prevent him from sharing an elevator with Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi when the latter arrived in the court complex yesterday.
In a video that has since gone viral on several social media platforms, Zahid and his entourage can be seen walking into the court’s main lobby before stopping in front the public elevators alongside several men dressed in black and with masks showing the national coat of arms.
Just as Zahid and the crowd walked into the lift, a man dressed in a red and white chequered shirt, who had several moments earlier greeted and shook Zahid’s hands, was pulled away from the lift by the collar by one of Zahid’s bodyguards.
The video then shows the alleged aggressor entering the lift along with Zahid and his entourage, without much practice of physical distancing, as the victim is seen clutching his neck in pain before the video ends.
Speaking to The Vibes, Zahid’s aide Datuk Fadzlette Othman Merican Idris Merican said the bodyguard in question has since apologised to the victim over the incident that has since gotten much flak from the public.
“The bodyguard has apologised to the individual concerned. Datuk Seri Zahid is not aware of what happened. He is, however, saddened over the incident,” she told The Vibes.
However, unhappy netizens already took to social media to condemn the actions of the black-jacketed bodyguards, with Twitter user @MattPhoon calling for the identity of the alleged aggressor to be revealed.
“If it was a lawyer or court staff, I would love to see Zahid’s bodyguard do the same. All brawn, no brains.
“Expose who are (sic) the bodyguard that pull the uncle in checkered (sic) shirt! Demand for apology!” read the tweet.
If it was a lawyer or court staff. I would love to see Zahid bodyguard do the same.
— The Madd One ? (@MattPhoon) January 24, 2022
All brawn no brains.
Expose who are the bodyguard that pull the Uncle in checkered shirt! Demand for apology! https://t.co/HSPwCyio6u
Another Twitter user, @RedditMalaysia, claimed the video was an indication of how VIPs and normal citizens are afforded different treatment here.
“VIPs apparently can’t even share a lift.”
VIP apparently can't even share a lift. Ahmad Zahid's bodyguard removes an Indian uncle from the lift. https://t.co/EQklDsCP22
— Reddit Malaysia (@RedditMalaysia) January 24, 2022
Another Twitter user @jakeblur empathised with the victim seen in the video, condemning the bodyguard’s actions.
“Shame on you Zahid for allowing this to happen and go to hell to the so-called bodyguards for thinking that was the best solution to be handled. Piss off douches,” read the tweet.
Sakit hati bila tengok uncle yang tggu lift lagi lama dari cibai2 semua tu tapi last2 kene tarik keluar balik. Shame on you Zahid for allowing this to happen and go to hell to the so-called bodyguards for thinking that was the best solution to be handled. Piss off douches. https://t.co/EWEcknrx3T
— Movie Freak Bear (@jakeblur) January 24, 2022
Other eagle-eyed users also question the compliance of Covid-19 SOPs by Zahid and his entourage as seen in the video.
User @NareshRajah, when commenting on the issue, tweeted how the security personnel should have advised the victim in the ordeal to have either used another lift or waited for the next one if they were not allowed to ride along with Zahid.
“Irony, they want to practice safety but SOPs are nowhere. Either way, what that guy did was wrong,” he tweeted.
The issue is the manhandling of tht uncle by the bodyguard. If the bodyguard dh smpai dulu sblm Zahid, wajarnye dia nasihatkn others untuk either tunggu or take a different lift. Irony, diorang nk priotise safety but SOP entah kemana. Either way, what the guy did was wrong
— Naresh Rajah (@NareshRajah) January 25, 2022
A Reddit user identified as “jenozside” commented that the security officers were only trying to do their job, but admitted that the way it was handled, as seen in the video, was probably not the best option.
“However, they did a really bad job and could have just told the uncle to move aside or block his way in advance to make way for the VIP. Instead, they yanked his shirt.
“These are not security escorts, these are thugs,” read the post.
The alleged incident took place at the Kuala Lumpur court complex lobby yesterday, just before Zahid was called to enter his defence over 47 criminal charges involving alleged corruption, abuse of power and money laundering.
Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, when delivering his judgement yesterday, had said the court found that the prosecution managed to prove the ingredients of all 47 offences which Zahid was charged with, justifying the need for him to enter his defence. – The Vibes, January 25, 2022
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