Story by Amanda Khong
Pix by Law Suun Ting
THE video of three Penang Island City Council (MBPP) officers acting professionally and calmly handling the situation when insulted in public for doing their job had gained much attention.
The three officers were recently praised by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in a press conference on Oct 9 in Komtar.
“I would like to praise the three brave MBPP officers for their professionalism and calm attitude while handling the situation at that moment. I am very proud to have such fine officers working with MBPP,” Lim said.
The three officers, Zarina Othman, Siti Asa Abu Bakar and Sabrina Mohd Sabri, were at the press conference to have the honour of receiving the praise in person.
They also received a cash incentive of RM200 each from the state government for their bravery and professionalism.
The incident started when two men, unhappy that their car had been clamped, started a ruckus with the officers.
When asked to pay RM50 to remove the clamp, one of the men started shouting: “Wa bukan tak ada duit. Wa ada banyak duit. Lu buka dulu (It’s not that I don’t have money. I have lots of money but you remove the clamp first).”
The second man then took out a RM50 note and threw it on the ground in front of the officer.
Zarina, who was the officer seen in the video, maintained her cool and calmly picked up the money.
Others present at the press conference were exco member for Public Works, Utilities and Transport Lim Hock Seng, exco member for Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Chow Kon Yeow, political secretary to the Chief Minister and Air Itam assemblymember Wong Hon Wai, Penang island mayor Datuk Patahiyah Ismail and MBPP secretary Ang Aing Thye.}