The current Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) has stated that the use of facemasks in public is compulsory especially in crowded places. The mandatory rule is implemented for the safety of the public to curb the spread of the increasing Covid-19 cases. However, there are still some people who are so conceited and believe they can defy the rule and even dare threaten people who ask them to put on a mask.
Lyn Centino experienced such an incident last weekend (18th July) when she and her mother encountered a man who came to their stall to buy nasi lemak in Taman Desa. According to Lyn, they had almost finished packing the guy’s order when Lyn’s mother noticed that the man did not have a mask on and proceeded to ask him where his mask was and why he was not wearing one.
Apparently, the man did not take the simple question well and proceeded to lambast them aggressively. The man allegedly yelled at the mother and daughter duo questioning their position and asked them to “just do your job”. “Who the hell are you? You are selling nasi lemak, just do your own job,” the man berated angrily at them.
A regular customer of the stall who was at the scene then stepped in to defend Lyn and her mother but was threatened by the individual instead. The regular customer simply defended the stall owners by saying that, “ She is selling nasi lemak, that’s why she is telling you to wear a mask.” The guy then responded with a threat to beat the regular customer.
“Do I look like I’m kidding? What are you going to do, call the police? Call, then, f*****r. What are you waiting for? Your phone got no credit, is it? Need me to buy you credit?,” the man provoked during their argument. He then proceeded aggressively with a threat, “F*****r, you want to get whack this morning? Sunday morning, you want to get whacked?”.
https://www.tiktok.com/@lyncentino/video/6986122127518813466?sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6976819828317357570&is_from_webapp=v1&is_copy_url=0
The incident was recorded and posted on Lyn’s TikTok platform and it immediately got noticed by netizens who were enraged by the situation. Lyn then posted a TikTok update stating that she already lodged a police report for their safety. Brickfields police then notified that they are currently investigating the situation.
Following the incident, netizens instantly searched for the identity of the man who violated the SOPs and threatened the public. The video of the same man then resurfaced on Twitter after a user recognised the same aggressive speech pattern and behaviour.
In an update, the man who allegedly verbally assaulted the nasi lemak seller after being reprimanded for not wearing a face mask was arrested by the police on Monday (19th July). Deputy Brickfields OCPD Superintendent Basri Sagoni in his statement yesterday (Tuesday, 20th July) stated that the 33-year-old man was arrested and remanded at his house in Taman Desa Bakti, around 8pm on Monday.
So this is the gangster at the nasi lemak stall…same behaviour, same words, same language…this fella would nvr change his ways…no wonder lah… pic.twitter.com/jc6G5v7HjH
— AhBoon (@UncleAhBoon) July 19, 2021
The suspect will be remanded for two days to be investigated under section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation as well as Rule 17(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Regulations for violating SOPs.
Sources: Sinar Harian, Harian Metro.
