Rela wants MACC to probe ‘forgiving’ officer

PUTRAJAYA: The People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) wants an officer to be investigated for corruption after he withdrew a police report against a businessman accused of assaulting him.

Rela has also temporarily suspended Melvin Cheong from duties due to his unilateral decision.

Rela operations director Mohamad Razib Buhaini said they were not consulted when Cheong made the decision to “forgive” Datuk Seri Liow Soon Hee.

“While the court proceedings were in progress, he decided to withdraw the police report without any consultation with us.

“We find this highly suspicious and call upon the MACC to look into the matter to see if there are elements of integrity breach or corruption,” said Mohamad Razib at a press conference, flanked by lawyers, before heading into the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission’s headquarters here to lodge a report.

Liow, 30, was charged with causing hurt to Cheong, 20, Lee Weng Poh, 28, and Leong Jun Jie, 22, at the compound of Kou Ong Yah temple in Ampang on Oct 27 last year.

After Cheong withdrew his report against Liow, the Ampang magistrate’s court granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal to the accused on two charges.

One of the charges is for causing hurt to Cheong while the other is for using criminal force to deter him from carrying out his duty as a Rela officer.

The case involving the other two victims continues for trial.

Mohamad Razib said the decision to file an MACC report against Cheong had been discussed and agreed by Rela’s top leadership.

“We take this matter seriously as we want to protect Rela’s dignity and integrity,” he said.

“He is still a Rela member of the Hulu Langat district but will not be asked to carry out any duties.”