As everyone knows, elections are coming up. Most politicians have been busy campaigning in the days leading up to election day. However, Penang Front Party (PFP) President Datuk Patrick Ooi (黄家业) has instead been working to clear his name.
Earlier, Datuk Patrick was arrested for allegedly opening an illegal drug rehab centre. There were also claims that the centre had beaten the addicts there. But, the PFP president recently shared via his socials that he had been released on bail. Additionally, he claimed that there had been many misunderstandings about his case.
Just yesterday (10th November), a video of Datuk Patrick went viral. It showed the PFP president himself explaining the situation regarding his arrest and his case. Datuk Patrick first started by saying that it was regrettable the beatings had happened in the first place. However, he added that said beatings had not happened under his management.
According to Datuk Patrick, the drug rehab centre in Penang had opened officially in March. The beatings had also allegedly took place around that time. However, Datuk Patrick claimed that had been under a different director then. He stated that he had only took over managing the centre in June, after the previous director left. Since taking over, Datuk Patrick claimed the beatings have not happened again.
Datuk Patrick stated that he has spoken to those mistreating the patients and stopped such behaviour. “I bring blessings (there) every week to protect (the patients),” he added. “They will (usually) tell me what they (encounter).” He went on to say that he has been working to give those at the centre a normal life. This included moving the centre to a beach in Tanjung Bungah in September. The PFP president claimed that with a gym, training rooms and the beach available, the addicts would be able to get their life back on track faster.
“If our centre is so (dangerous), it would be impossible for so many families to send their family members here,” he stated. Datuk Patrick added they had considered closing the centre. But, the patients’ families had allegedly asked him not to. “If left unsupervised, (the addicts) will beat their wives and threaten to kill their children when they (are at) home,” he said.
Datuk Patrick, his wife and an employee had supposedly been arrested together. However, all three have been released on bail. “The (arrests) at the time also affected my family,” he stated. “But after six days of investigation, it was discovered that there was a misunderstanding.” Still, Datuk Patrick isn’t sure if he will be prosecuted or not.
The PFP president added that he had been planning to run for the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat. However, as he was only released at 5pm on the nomination day (5th November), he had missed the nomination. Datuk Patrick added that he suspected a political agenda behind the incident.
The case is allegedly still being investigated by the police under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. Additionally, the patients at the centre are currently in custody in a different centre in Melaka. On his part, Datuk Patrick has supposedly provided information on the former director to the police.
However, netizens have been claiming otherwise. Several have decried his explanation with others sharing their disgust for his words. So far, the PFP president has not responded to the backlash.
Sources: China Press, Sin Chew Daily, Facebook
