KUALA LUMPUR: Petaling Jaya member of parliament Lee Chean Chung has urged the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to investigate the confrontation between a senior citizen and its enforcement officers, fairly and transparently.
Lee said the incident at Jalan 18/17, Taman Kanagapuram, had exposed the flaws in MBPJ's management of stray animals.
"It is unfortunate that enforcement operations, supposedly protecting citizens, have ended up in a senior citizen being hurt and now facing an obstruction charge on Friday.
"The public authority should show consideration, high level of professionalism, care and compassion to all humans as well as animals during their work with the public, as well as being in line with MBPJ's mission towards a community caring governance," he said in a statement today.
On March 24, an MBPJ officer told the New Straits Times that it had launched an internal investigation into enforcement officers seen roughing up the elderly man in a video circulating on social media.
Lee also expressed solidarity with the senior citizen, identified as Patrick Khoo.
He said the closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) footage showed that Khoo did not retaliate during the incident.
"I also acknowledge that no person shall obstruct public officers in discharging their duties, and the decision by the court regarding this issue will be obeyed and respected.
"At the same time, I am also in solidarity with the elderly man who was on his property, and showed no violence during MBPJ's dog-capturing operation as seen in video footage shared online," he said.
Yesterday, Petaling Jaya police chief Fakhrudin Hamid said the 69-year-old would be charged in the Petaling Jaya magistrate's court under Section 186 of the Penal Code, for obstructing a public servant in the discharge of his or her public functions.
"Investigation papers have been referred to the deputy public prosecutor and we have been instructed to charge the man tomorrow," he said in a statement.
During the operation, Khoo tried to protect the stray dogs by letting them into his compound.
The enforcement officers tried to pursue animals into the compound but were prevented by Khoo.