GERAKAN SAD OVER KENINGAU ASSAULT

Gordon (seated 3rd from left) and members of his delegation listen attentively to Ben during the visit. Sitting next to Ben is his mother Lau Swee Kin.

The Keningau District Police has assured a professional, thorough and transparent investigation into the alleged brutal assault of Ben Cheah, a 23-year-old youth here, by a Senior Prisons Department Officer and his fellow wardens on 29 April.

Assuring this was Keningau OCPD, Supt Zahari Mohamad when called upon by Gerakan Sabah Liaison Chairman, Datuk Gordon Leong and his delegation comprising its various leaders today.

Gordon and his delegation had called on Zahari after visiting Ben and his family here, also on the same day.

“We felt that such a visit to the OCPD was necessary as, we could feel Ben’s and his family’s feeling of distraught, pain, anxiety, distress and more importantly their feeling of helplessness, as a result of the despicable incident,” said Gordon.

He noted that the visit by Gerakan Sabah delegation was in response to a call by Gerakan Sabah’s Keningau Division Chief, Cleyrance Lee.

Also present during the visit were Gerakan Sabah Youth Chief, Chang Shui Kiong, its Limbanak Branch Chairman Wong Choong Seng, Kong Yu Kiong and Cleyrance.

Gordon said Gerakan Sabah was appalled and sad that in this modern and civilized society, there are still those who preferred to take matters into their own hands.

“No one should take the law into their own hands or see themselves as to be above the law, more so for law enforcement officers who are supposed to protect the public,” he asserted.

He further stressed that the alleged assault incident which involved a senior government official must be viewed at seriously as it is now of the concern of the general public.

“If left unaddressed in the best manner, could be misinterpreted negatively by the general public and worse still, be exploited by the opposition parties for political mileage.

“It is exactly this type of uncalled for behavior that gives a bad name to the government and Gerakan Sabah believes and is confident that the relevant authorities would look into this matter seriously.

“As a concerned component political party of Barisan Nasional, we don’t want to see the image of the government to be tarnished thereby losing the confidence of the people. The Government, whom the public look up to as their protector should therefore not tolerate this type of brutal behavior,” said Gordon.