Police are looking into a video that has been circulating online, showcasing a scuffle between a Pasir Mas local authority (PBT) enforcement officer and a rice trader.
Based on a report by Harian Metro, the Pasir Mas District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Mohd Nasaruddin M Nasir shared that they are also tracking down the trader for further investigation.
He added that the authorities have received a police report from a 33-year-old assistant local authority enforcement officer, following his video that showcased him grabbing the trader’s phone while on duty.
“Based on the report made, the incident occurred when the enforcement officer, along with seven other colleagues, conducted an operation at the location against hawkers without a licence,”
“During the operation, a man, who is the rice hawker, used a mobile phone to record the scene and the enforcement officer tried to stop the man from continuing to do so until a fight broke out. Amidst the scuffle, the hawkers used abusive words and prevented the enforcement officers from carrying out their duties,” he said, adding that the traders there were already under observation for conducting business in an unauthorised area.
There were reportedly two previous records of such operations by the local authority against the same trader from back in February and March. This incident is the third operation involving the trader.
“During the incident, the trader was also said to not give cooperation when asked for an identity card by the enforcement officer to be summoned for trading in the parking lot. He also had a damaged temperature scanner,”
“However, the action of the trader who closely recorded the video of the enforcement officer’s face while he was on duty caused the complainant to confiscate his mobile phone to prevent the video from being recorded. The seizures made on the merchandise of the trader involved during the operation included umbrellas, table legs, banners, rice packets, cakes and temperature scanners,” he explained.
This case is now being investigated under Section 186 of the Penal Code.
“I remind all parties not to indiscriminately take pictures and record videos of all things and incidents with the intention of garnering sympathy or taking advantage of the situation,”
“This act is not good and seems to have become the norm,” he said.
You can check out the video here:
What do you think about this? Let us know in the comment section.
Also read: PDRM Tracking Down PBT Officer Who Didn’t Wear Face Mask While Compounding Trader
