Council ill-treated me, says physically-challenged man

 

A physically-challenged trader claimed today he was treated aggressively by about 15 enforcement officers from the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP), who also seized 200 items of his goods worth RM4,000.

G Munisvaran said, in a police report he lodged at the Seberang Perai Tengah police headquarters in Bukit Mertajam on Sept 15, that this took place at Solok Sungai Pinang on the island, where he goes once a month to sell garments.

Munisvaran said a group of 15 MPPP officers approached him  atabout 6.30pm on Sept 12 and seized his goods, without prior notice.

"When I told them I am a handicapped person, an officer replied: "OKU (orang yang kurang upaya) ka? Apa, kayu ka, atau apa? Pihak MPPP tak peduli (we do not care)".

"He said it in a harsh manner and appeared as if he wanted to hit me. When I tried to prevent my goods from being seized, they pushed me off, roughly," Munisvaran, 43, lamented at a press conference called by the Penang Hindu Association today.

He said he has not been able to trade for two weeks already and is worried because he supports his family of two sons, aged five and seven years aside from his wife.

"My wife is a foreigner and cannot work to support the family. Please, I beg the council officers, return my goods so that I can trade again," he said.

"I have met with the council and the officers told me to pay RM350 to get my clothes back. When I told them I have no money, they ignored my plea.

"Furthermore, they said, only 108 pieces were seized, when they have taken 200 items. They did not count the pieces before they took them away."

Munisvaran said he has been trading for 10 years, and has also taken a loan of RM7,000 from Tekun to start his business, settling it by a monthly instalment of RM382.

'Have more emoathy and compassion'

Penang Hindu Association deputy president P Murugiah (left) urged the enforcement officers to have more empathy and compassion towards the lower income group and unfortunate people such as Munisvaran.

He said the state and federal governments often encourage the people, especially the physically challenged, to be independent.

"However, when implementing and enforcing the laws, the authorities behave in an irresponsible manner. So, how can people like Munisvaran improve their lives?" he asked.

"The MPPP should have instead advised him on what to do to trade in the area, including applying for the appropriate licence, as well as given him counselling or a verbal or written warning and to vacate the area," Murugiah added.

"Seizing his goods and not counting the items in front of him, and not even even giving him a reference to trace back his goods, have been extremely unprofessional and seem more like gangsterism," he said.

He urged MPPP president Patahiyah Ismail to look into improving the conduct of her officers, especially those in the enforcement section, and to ensure they behaved professionally with the people.

When contacted, MPPP councillor Harvinder Singh said the enforcement officers seized Munisvaran’s goods as he is an illegal trader.

"We have received complaints about the matter since 2012 and notices have been issued to the trader before we acted," Harvinder claimed.

He urged all traders to follow procedures to avoid action been taken while they are trading.

On the alleged aggressiveness of the officers towards a handicapped man, Harvinder acknowledged Munisvaran’s version of the incident.

"But since he has lodged a police report, let the investigations proceed. We do not want to interfere in that," he added.