Terengganu: OKU Sentral today expressed sadness over the incident of a person with disabilities (PwD) being assaulted at a farmers’ market in Terengganu and hoped action will be taken by the authorities against those involved. OKU Sentral president Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi said PwDs face numerous challenges in their daily lives from various aspects, and incidents of violence against them are deeply troubling and heartbreaking.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi highlighted that the footage of the incident, which went viral, was distressing. It showed a PwD being dragged and kicked by a group of citizens for what is believed to be an unintentional offence. She emphasized that the identities of the attackers have not yet been confirmed.

Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi also pointed out that it was disappointing to see bystanders at the scene who did not intervene or offer help. She stressed that not recognizing the victim as a person with a mental disability does not justify or permit physical violence as a form of punishment.

It was reported that the police have arrested three men, including a trader, aged between 18 and 60, to aid in the investigation. The arrests followed a viral video depicting a 47-year-old man being beaten and dragged by several individuals at the Padang Astaka Chukai Farmers’ Market last Friday, after allegedly crashing into one of the stalls on his motorcycle.