The Star, Friday April 6, 2012

Chong alarmed over crimes involving Africans

KUALA LUMPUR: The increasing number of criminal cases involving Africans has reached a worrying state, said MCA public services and complaints department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong.

However, he added that not every African that comes here is bad as there are many good and honest Africans who are in Malaysia to study.

He urged the Government to carry out thorough background checks on all foreigners to ensure they enter the country for the right reasons.

Weighing the options: Chong and the legal team discussing the case involving the Rela members detained over the Nigerian’s death.

 

Chong was commenting on the mob attack on a 35-year-old Nigerian at the Venice Hill condominium in Kajang and the detention of seven Rela members for questioning into the foreigner’s death.

The Nigerian had allegedly tried to rape a 50-year-old woman who worked there. He died after allegedly being assaulted by the Rela men who provided security services at the condominium.

The seven remanded men are being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

On Sunday, more than 200 Africans, some armed with parang, knives and iron rods, were reportedly involved in a stand-off with the police after they smashed glass panels of the management office.

Chong, an honorary colonel in Rela, said it was unfortunate that a life was lost but the people should refrain from acting emotionally against those implicated in the incident.

“Let the police do their job in investigating the case and do not take the law into your own hands,” he advised at a press conference at his office here yesterday.

Chong has appointed a team of lawyers to hold a watching brief over the seven remanded Rela members.

The men in the team, all holding the honorary rank of major in Rela, are lawyers R. Moghan, Leong Pak Yiew and Alex Kok.