City Hall's 'Gangsters In Uniform' Strike Yet Again With Impunity

Restaurant operators in Sentul alleged that City Hall officers were unnecessarily high-handed when conducting raids last night. Following the raid, six police reports were lodged by both the operators and customers.

The operators, as well as some customers, claimed that a group of 100 City Hall officers smashed several glass panes at the stalls, pulled out the electrical wires, damaged water pipes and even poured food all over the floor during the 11pm raid.

In the chaos, one customer had curry splashed on his clothes.

The officers’ alleged highhandedness had allegedly caused a near riot, claimed Batu MP Tian Chua, who was at the scene last night.

"This is not an isolated case. We have discussed the rough tactics of City Hall enforcement units with the mayor, but nothing has been done to rein them in," said Chua, adding that he would be bringing the matter up with City Hall today.

Angered by the treatment, restaurant operators and customers described the City Hall officers as "gangsters in uniforms".

"We were given no warning, no explanation, no notice. We tried to talk to them but they came in suddenly like gangsters. They shoved tables and chairs where our customers were eating. They chased our customers out. The children were all crying too," said D.Nanthakumaran, a manager of Seri Makhota mamak restaurant.

Nanthakumaran said that he had permits for his business and had applied for permits to put tables on the pavement outside his outlet.

One stall owner at another restaurant, Ariffin Abdul Majid, said: "These people should have come and talked to us. This is against basic human rights. People were eating and they acted harshly." The customer, who had curry splashed on him, said he came to watch the Chelsea-Newcastle match like many others in the large crowd last night.

"It happened so fast. The waiter was coming with my roti canai. The next thing I knew, I was wet," said Low Weng Foon, 52. "Everyone was scared." A mother, whose 11-year old girl had her arm placed in a cast earlier, had been waiting for her food when the raid occurred. "We were so afraid they would knock her arm. The plaster had not even dried," said the mother, adding their food was thrown away as they ran to hide in a corner. (Malay Mail)

***** What a bunch of vicious bastards. They behave as if they are above the law and despite so many complaints and reports, no one wants to take responsibility or rein them in.