Sunday February 5, 2006
Don’t blow up bald issue, MCA division urges public
PUCHONG: The public should cool down and not over-react over the Kajang police's move to shave bald the 10 mahjong players, said the Puchong MCA division service centre.
“It is an isolated incident that happened in only one police station where it looks like discretion was not used,” said Liew Yew Fook, Puchong MCA division service centre head at a press conference yesterday.
Also present were representatives from two resident associations, Puchong MCA 14th mile branch and Kuan Chee Heng, the special assistant to Seri Serdang state assemblyman Datuk Satim Diman.
They urged the public not to blow the issue out of proportion and also urged the police to be more sensitive when conducting lock-up procedures.
“There is no point in the public trying to be heroes by forming groups to challenge the police,” said Kuan.
“However, we do disagree with the police action and will be sending a letter to the Selangor CPO to urge the police to practice more discretion in future during festive seasons.”
The representatives then advised the Chinese community not to play mahjong in coffeeshops as that was considered gambling.
“Mahjong should be played in the house for fun and leisure and should not have the element of gambling,” they added.
In Ipoh, state People’s Progressive Party deputy chairman Naran Singh said Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Noor Hakim had misinterpreted the law when defending his officers.
He told reporters here yesterday that Section 9a of the Lock Up Rules only applied to prisoners and not detainees.