Food stall owner scalded by boiling hot oil wants justice

Photos from: Guang Ming Daily http://www.guangming.com.my

News from: http://thestar.com.my/news (By RAHIMY RAHIM, 9/1/2011)
KUALA LUMPUR: A food stall owner suffered serious burns when he was splashed with boiling hot oil during a dispute with a neighbouring trader. An innocent bystander was also injured in the incident at the Jalan Raja Laut morning market last November. Wo Kia Kee, 33, a food stall owner at the market, was believed to have been attacked after he put some leftover food at the neighbouring trader’s shop lot. “Before I opened my shop that morning, the words ‘die’ were scribbled on the road in front of my shop lot,” he told reporters at a press conference at the Segambut DAP Centre yesterday.

The victim said he was shocked when someone suddenly came and splashed boiling hot oil on his table, injuring both his hands and thighs. The man then took out a blade and threatened to cut the victim up. Wo was then rushed to Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and later to Ampang Puteri Hospital for further treatment.

Student Toh Wei Lun, who happened to be standing near Wo’s shop, was also scalded by the boiling hot oil. “The oil splash burned 80% of my back and the wound took two months to heal. “I could not sleep normally as I had to lie face down the whole time and this affected my studies,” Toh said, adding that he was helping his mother at the market that day. Both victims lodged police reports on Nov 6 last year but have yet to receive any information on the progress of their case.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said he had written to the Attorney-General’s Chamber on behalf of the victims to get a status report. “Under Section 107(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code, the A-G’s Chamber must reply within 14 days,” said Lim, who hoped the assailant would be brought to justice.