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DEAR Mr Danny Law (Penang Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman) and Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen (Tourism Minister).

I’m writing to you about my terrifying experience in your beautiful country and seeking help from you for justice to be done on those who damaged the name and image of Malaysia.

We’ve been brutally attacked by over 12 ‘beach boys’ on Aug 20 during our trip to Penang, Malaysia.

This is the story witnessed by hundreds of hotel guests, staff and local people on the beach right behind Hotel Flamingo in Tanjung Bungah, Penang.

Five of us (two Malaysians and one each from Singapore, Britain and Australia) checked into the hotel around 6pm that day and we headed out to the beach for jet ski.

Sabrina (the Singaporean) was badly injured due to poor safety instructions and execution of the water sports operator.

In so much pain, she was crying out in her husband’s arm while waiting for help. The crowd soon closed in and the husband was asking the people to give some space for air.

Ten over locals stayed still, laughing at the injured woman. Devastated, he insisted the crowd to move back again. Instead of offering help, the ‘beach boys’ — as the king of the beach — were offended and started pointing fingers at the husband and threatening him to shut up.

The wife was terrified, shaking and crying in her husband’s arm when one of them slapped him on the head. I stood up and tried to protect my friends but within half a second, fists rained on me, the Briton, the husband and his brother.

They chased me to the water and held my head under it until I choked with sea water. For a second, I thought I was going to be drowned.

The rest of the gang dragged the husband to a corner by his hair and savagely threw fists and kicks on his head, spine and chest and smashed a beer bottle on him.

While he was lying unconscious on the beach, one thug held his hair and kneed him on his temple.

Finally, they stopped after he lay paralysed on the beach with blood covering his whole face.

During the whole incident, no one offered help except a local lady who was screaming at the terrifying scene.

Until now, all we received from the hotel was an apology e-mail “sorry to hear about the unpleasant incident!” from the front office manager.

Police never showed up, while the thugs laughed and fled on their motorbikes.

We were only reached by an inspector an hour before our flight back to Singapore — 7pm the next day.

We want to see justice done to those criminals, a formal apology and compensation — for both the physical and mental pain — from the hotel and the water sports company.

Best regards,

RICHARD WANG

Posted by admin on September 7, 2011 under Opinion.