Personnel ‘acted a little out of bounds’, probe ongoing, says Armed Forces chief

An investigation into reports of a man in uniform ordering a foreign worker to roll on the grass, video clips of which have gone viral on social media, remains ongoing, the Armed Forces said today.

Armed Forces chief Affendi Buang said preliminary action had already been taken, and that no member of the Armed Forces involved in any duty would act out of bounds.

“On the contrary, they will perform their assigned duties to protect the safety of the country as well as the public.

“We ask that members of the community as well as those under quarantine cooperate with the authorities,” he said at a press conference.

Yesterday, MalaysiaNow reported that footage had surfaced of men in uniform employing brutal and inhumane tactics on migrant workers believed to be under quarantine for Covid-19.

One clip shows a man forcing a worker to roll on the grass while brandishing what looks like a rubber hose.

Another video shows two men beating a worker using a rubber hose and a stick.

Andy Hall, a migrant worker rights activist based in Nepal who has knowledge about the clips, told MalaysiaNow that both incidents happened in Meru, Klang.

Affendi said the personnel in question had acted “a little beyond bounds”.

“I know this member acted a little beyond bounds and I apologise about the matter.

“But at the same time, members of the Armed Forces do not behave as they please. If they did, surely many cases of assault would have taken place,” he said.