"I Don't Want Revenge", Says Low Yat Victim Who Was Left Bloodied By The Senseless Mob
Patrick Lim said he was driving home with his friends early Monday morning after supper when they got stuck in the mob gathering near Berjaya Times Square. The aftermath of which left him and his friends bloodied and battered.
By Sadho Ram — 15 Jul 2015, 05:31 PM
In the wee hours of Monday morning, 13 July, at 3.30am, 21-year-old Patrick Lim, who works as a freelance salesman, was driving home along with his friends Max Chu and Vincent Peng, both aged 21, after having supper at a restaurant behind Berjaya Times Square.
He, however, had no idea that a U-turn at the intersection of Jalan Imbi and Jalan Sultan Ismail would lead them into a situation so horribly terrifying, they would know nothing but to feel helpless after being left battered and bloodied in the hands of a senseless mob rioting over the Low Yat Plaza incident from the previous night.
In case you haven't yet already, watch the horror they went through:
As the video above shows, Patrick and both his friends were dragged out of the car he was driving, and a mob that he estimated to number more than 100 descended on them. "People were attacking us with wood planks, motorcycle locks, hammers and helmets and were breaking the windows of the car and jumping up and down on it," Patrick told a press conference today, 15 July.
Speaking to reporters for the first time since the incident, the former state basketball player, however, said that he holds no grudges
"Many people asked me why don't I want revenge. It is because I have many Malay friends. I don't want to be a racist. We are born in Malaysia, there is no point fighting back. But I hope there will be no more incidents like this again. There is no point. We are Malaysians," he said.
Lim was met at a car workshop in Kuala Lumpur where he had taken the car for repair.
Lim recalled what happened during the attack. He was in his car near Berjaya Times Square and the old Pudu Jail.
"I was driving after supper when we saw a crowd as we were passing near Berjaya Times Square. My car does not have central locking, so someone from the crowd opened my door and asked if I was Chinese. I didn't answer as my mind was blank. They asked me where I stay. I told him I stay near Ampang and after that he punched me straight away," he said.
One of the victims showing bruise marks he suffered after he and friends were attacked by a violent mob outside the Low Yat Plaza in Kuala Lumpur early Monday.
Image via Kamal AriffinThe whole ordeal lasted for about 10 minutes until the police arrived. But by then, the mob was done with them, leaving them battered and bloodied, and robbing Patrick of his handphone and wallet. "I kept silent, I was shocked and I felt helpless," he said.
"They treated us like animals," he added, hoping that his assailants would be brought to justice.
Lim was met at a car workshop in Kuala Lumpur where the Wira was taken for repair but was it ultimately decided that the 12-year old vehicle not be fixed.
Lim said police have informed him that 15 people have been arrested so far in relation to the mob attack, but he has yet to be summoned to identify them.
He said he was pulled out of the car by about five people and dragged for several metres on the road before the policemen arrived and shielded him from further attacks.
"One of my friends, his whole face, hands and arms were covered in blood. He had been kicked in the head by a big-sized man and required surgery on his head and body but he is conscious now and no bones were broken.They treated us like animals," said Lim.
Peng, who was asleep in the rear passenger seat, was the first to be dragged out of the car while Lim and Chu in the front were kicked and punched in their seats for around six minutes as they were wearing seatbelts. They, too, were dragged out shortly after.
Peng suffered the worst injuries and is still hospitalised. He is in stable condition following an operation for stitches to his forehead and to remove glass shards from his body. Lim and Chu suffered mostly bruises and grazes to their head, mouth, arms and legs.
“Me and my other friend (Chu) just kept covering our heads, because at the time we had our seatbelts on and it was very hard for them to pull us out. But all (my personal items), my phone and my wallet got stolen by them. After that, they started breaking my car windows and jumping on my car," recalled a traumatised Lim.
He said it was another three minutes or so after he was dragged out of his car before police intervened and took him to safety. He said when he looked back then, he saw that Peng was still being viciously attacked.
“I saw that his entire face was covered in blood and also his arms. Then I saw someone kick him in the stomach and he went down on the street. At the time, maybe he was dizzy and confused, one […] quite huge sized […] that Malay guy kicked his head, and straightaway he was just laying down on the road. Then I saw my friend (Chu) beside the car. One by one, they were attacking him,” he said.
Patrick stressed that he and his friends did not say anything to the mob apart from answering their questions, nor did they do anything to retaliate. He said he never uttered racial words when confronted.
"I had never shouted (at the mob) that the Malays were useless or made any racial remarks during the incident. I know of reports alleging that I had shouted but I never said anything racist. I never fought back."
thestar.com.myHe said his group were just concentrating on shielding their heads with their arms from the incoming blows and kicks. He said this in response to allegations circulating online that the group (lim and his friends) had shouted racist slurs to the mob.
“Got people asking me this type of question so I answered them: If you were in my place, with more than 80 to 100 people (surrounding you), would you dare to shout at them and fight with them and be brave like a superhero? In my situation, I was just shocked. Helpless. No one could help me. They just pulled open my door, asked me those two questions, and straightaway punched me in the face,” he said.
Meanwhile, the insurance company will not cover the damages to Patrick's car as his coverage excludes damage caused by rioting and civil commotion. The car belongs to his uncle and he does not know the total amount of damage to the car, Malaysiakini reported.
DAP's Mentakab assemblyman Tengku Zulpuri Shah, who had organised the press conference, said the attack on Patrick and his friends should be condemned.
"We are dealing with lives here. It does not matter what race or religion they are. As a Malay and a Muslim I feel embarrassed hearing this story. Ramadan is a holy month and youths should be at the mosque or other good places, not out there beating up people," said Tengku Zulpuri.
"Why is this happening to Malaysia? We are all Malaysians together, regardless of race or religion," he said.