No action against MBPP officers in tyre clamp case, mayor says

No disciplinary action will be taken against the two Penang Island City Council (MBPP) enforcement officers who clamped the tyre of a car parked in a disabled parking space on Jalan Macalister, Penang.

A video clip of the subsequent confrontation between the owner of the vehicle – which did not bear an OKU (disabled) sticker – and MBPP officers had been uploaded onto YouTube.

Nevertheless, MBPP mayor Maimunah Sharif insisted that the officers were "just doing their jobs" in accordance with the local council's bylaws.

"I cannot take action as they were just doing their jobs.

"I have explained this to the owner of the car who was involved in the incident that took place happened on Monday," Maimunah (photo) told Malaysiakini.

"However, our officers will be trained on how to improve communication with the public.

"Our officers are told that when you explain to the public why their wheels are clamped, you must be firm but not rude," she noted, adding that the enforcement unit has been informed about improving the communication skills of the officers.

‘Heartless’ officers

The owner of the car in question, 40-year-old Ooi Chee Lin, was with her wheelchair-bound mother when arguing with the officers to unclamp her vehicle.

The self-employed Ooi took her case to MCA yesterday and demanded that action is taken against the two officers and that the summons issued by the officers be cancelled.

Witness M Ravindran, 55, said yesterday that he feared for his safety when the MBPP officers snapped his photo.

However, Maimunah explained that all enforcement officers have been instructed to snap photographs or record videos of their activities.

"This is stated in their standing operation procedures. It is to ensure that if anything happens, we have the record.

“We are not just taking photos but videos as well, as proof to counter allegations against us," Maimunah said.

OKU sticker issued

Maimunah also issued Ooi with an OKU to be displayed on her vehicle, so that she can now park in lots designated for the disabled.

"A card needs to be applied for at the Welfare Department. Only genuine cases will be issued the stickers," she said.

"I have received feedback from the disabled community that it is not fair to issue stickers to car drivers who are not disabled.

"Those who just had a fall, or had their legs injured, cannot be considered disabled," Maimunah stressed.

Ooi told Malaysiakini yesterday that her vehicle did not display an OKU sticker because the process of obtaining one was “a hassle”.

The council did not state whether the summons issued to Ooi, before she paid the RM50 fine to unclamp her car, would be withdrawn.- Mkini