KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Security Industry Association says it will be contacting the management of the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) to express its concerns and views following a security guard going “overboard” in his treatment of journalists and the public.
Its president Datuk Seri Ramli Yusuff was reported as saying that the incident at the UTC in Pudu could have been a result of a lack of training in conflict resolution provided to the on-duty guard.
He was quoted by The Sun as saying that all security personnel are supposed to attend training on resolving conflicts before they can be deployed.
This includes educating them on legal matters, improving their communication skills, disciplinary training, and self-defence, as well as on guidelines regarding when and where they are allowed to use their powers.
Ramli added that guards must also be able to complete all tasks given to them, based on the job scope decided by their superiors.
“In this case, perhaps the security guard in question had gone overboard,” he said, while reminding all personnel to be as polite and sensible while being firm when carrying out their duties.
“Investigation is being carried out by police. However, the association will contact the UTC management to look into the case from our point of view,” Ramli was quoted as saying.
The UTC comes under the Finance Ministry.
The assault by the security guard on a reporter from The Vibes took place last Saturday when they visited the Pudu UTC to look into public complaints of long queues at Immigration Department counters to renew their travel documents.
A video of the incident, which has since gone viral showed the guard shouting aggressively at the journalists, preventing them from talking to the public there. He also snatched a handphone from one of the reporters, later realising that his action was being filmed.
A police report was subsequently lodged by both parties on the same day, although The Vibes was informed today that police would not pursue the case further after the deputy public prosecutor found no conclusive evidence.
Just four days ago, Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigations Department chief Habibi Majinji decided to reclassify the investigation under Section 160 of the Penal Code for committing affray or commotion, after personally going over the facts of the case.
This comes less than 48 hours after his subordinate and Dang Wangi district police chief Noor Dellhan Yahaya told The Vibes that police had all but concluded there were no criminal elements in the case and classified it as “refer to magistrate”. – The Vibes, May 20, 2022
