I would do it again, says assaulted MP

Even after requiring hospitalisation following his scuffle with the police on Thursday night, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng has no regrets and would repeat his actions over the Bandar Mahkota Cheras (BMC) barricade row if he has to.

“I was there to represent the interest of the people and I would do it again,” a defiant Lim told reporters at the Selayang hospital this morning after getting a verbal nod from doctors on his health.

Lim admitted himself to the hospital yesterday afternoon after complaining of dizzy spells as he had allegedly been peppered sprayed, beaten and kicked by plainclothes police personnel the night before.

The incident happened at the barricade on an access road between BMC and the Bandar Tun Hussien Onn interchange along the Cheras-Kajang Highway.

Residents were helplessly witnessing highway concessionaire Grand Saga’s workers re-erecting the barricade the residents had torn down earlier, but Lim came and chased off the workers.

As residents celebrated Lim’s actions, Federal Reserve Unit personnel took attacking positions and Lim stood in front of a water cannon to prevent it for advancing, leading to the alleged attack by plainclothes policemen.

No mere ‘Selangor issue’

Recounting the incident to reporters today, Lim said he had initially tried to find out who was in charge of the construction work that night from Grand Saga employees and the police.

“I think I did the right thing. I identified myself and went to talk to the high-ranking police officers and Grand Saga workers but none wanted to give answers.

“If no one is in charge, then I concluded at the time that the construction work done by them was illegal and as the people’s representative, I had to take action,” said Lim.

That night, Lim pulled the plugged off a welding machine, prompting Grand Saga workers to leave the area while jubilant BMC residents to tear down the barricade by hand.

Asked to describe his injuries, Lim said that he was aching in various parts of the body and felt like he had just ran a marathon. Among the procedures he underwent was an X-ray of his chest and a CT-scan of his skull.

BMC committee members were also present at the hospital this morning to present the MP with a get-well gift.

Lim said he had received a flood of phone calls, emails and SMSes from supporters worried for his safety and told him to stay away from the BMC barricade row which was deemed a “Selangor issue” and that his constituency was in the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur.

“I’m a elected representative at the federal level and this is a national issue, therefore I have a responsibility to speak up. Furthermore, even before I was elected two years ago, I had already been the BMC Open Road Committee legal advisor,” he said.

Lim added that he would sue the police for the injuries inflicted on him.

Watch the 12-min video of the scuffle on Malaysiakini.tv

SPECIAL REPORT: The Grand Saga in Cheras