GEORGE TOWN, Oct 9 — Two youths who allegedly abused three Penang Island City Council (MBPP) enforcement officers verbally yesterday have been arrested.
Northeast district police chief ACP Mior Farid Alathrash Wahid said the duo, an air conditioner technician and a car mechanic, were picked up at about 4pm today.
“They were arrested at a fast food restaurant in Bandar Baru Farlim Air Itam,” he told reporters today.
The men, a 19-year-old and a 25-year-old, will be investigated under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in the discharge of his public functions.
A video of the duo shouting at two MBPP enforcement officers after their car was clamped was spread on social media yesterday.
In the incident, the duo’s car was illegally parked along Campbell Street and was clamped by the enforcement officers.
When the youths discovered that their car was locked, they first tried to remove it using their own equipment but failed.
They then argued with two of the enforcement officers and started shouting profanities at them while another officer stood aside and videoed the whole incident.
When the officers told them that they had to pay the fine before the clamp could be removed, they continued shouting and then threw a RM50 note on the ground.
One of the officers calmly picked up the money and removed the clamp. Throughout the incident, the officers facing the duo calmly explained the reasons for the clamping and the compound they had to pay for the clamp to be removed.
The video, taken by one of the enforcement officers, was shared on a Facebook page called Penang Kini.
The MBPP enforcement officers later lodged a police report against the duo.
This morning, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng commended the enforcement officers, Zarina Othman, Siti Asa Abu Bakar and Sabrina Mohd Sabri, for their composure throughout the incident.
The state government also gave the three officers cash incentives for continuing to carry out their duty despite facing verbal abuse by the men.
