‘Apology not accepted’

> Rela men leave it to court to decide fate of Datuk Sri

KUALA LUMPUR: “Apology not accepted, let the court decide your fate” – that is the message from the three People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) personnel to Datuk Sri Liow Soon Hee, who had allegedly assaulted them on Oct 27.

Representing the trio, Rela superintendent James Ee told reporters that Rela is a uniformed enforcement agency established by the government and regulated by a set of laws and regulations, and this makes Rela part of government enforcement agencies.

“What the Datuk Sri has done to the trio is not any ordinary assault incident that we can take lightly.

“It is a serious offence because what he did was as good as assaulting a government personnel who was carrying out his or her duties.

“Even though he had apologised and felt remorseful over his action, we should not just let it go, we should let the court decide,” Ee said during a press conference at Wisma MCA yesterday.

Also present at the press conference were the three Rela personnel – Melvin Cheong, Lee Weng Poh and Leong Jun Jie – Rela senior superintendent R. Moghan, Rela assistant deputy superintendent Ho Hoong Keong, and Rela superintendent Datuk Seri Michael Chong.

Asked if Rela and the three victims were willing to accept the apology extended by the Datuk Sri, Ee said it is not up to the agency or the victims to accept the apology as court proceedings will still continue regardless.

Recently, at the Selangor Community policing headquarters, Liow told the media that he regretted his action and was willing to apologise to the affected members.

Apart from being charged for assaulting three Rela members, who were on duty during a religious ceremony at Kew Ong Yah temple in Kampung Baru Ampang, Selangor on Oct 27, he was also being questioned by the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission for allegedly offering a bribe of RM10,000, via a middlemen, to drop the case to which the Rela men refused.

Liow could face up to two years in jail, or a fine, or both, under Section 323, 325 and 353 of the Penal Code for causing hurt, grievous hurt and using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty, respectively.