http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,189684,00.html?
MP Set Ablaze: How can it happen again?
Ex-cabby who punched MP Seng Han Thong in 2006:
People ask if I have attacked MP Seng again
By Vivien Chan
January 14, 2009
TNP PICTURE: KELVIN CHNG
THE man who attacked MP Seng Han Thong earlier still regrets being so quick-tempered then.
All the more because Mr Seng not only forgave Mr Koo Tong Huat and saved him from being convicted, but also helped him with a compensation claim.
The former cabby, 77, never thought Mr Seng would be attacked again.
Mr Koo said he felt sorry for Mr Seng.
'He's a good man and he does not deserve this,' he said.
His assault on Mr Seng happened during a Meet-the-People session in 2006. He had wanted help in getting his revoked taxi licence reinstated.
He ended up punching Mr Seng, who suffered a bruised lip.
Mr Koo was charged, but the matter was later settled out of court.
That same month, he took out a $460 newspaper advertisement to thank Mr Seng. He believed it was Mr Seng who helped him receive $387.98 in compensation from his former taxi company for an accident.
'Mr Seng is a very good person,' said Mr Koo. 'I respect him, and we bear no hard feelings against each other over what happened in 2006.'
He said that he frequently goes to Mr Seng's community events in the area, and both men acknowledge each other with a nod of the head and a smile.
'We smile at each other, but we don't talk. I don't want people to think that I am doing it for show,' he said.
It is for this reason that he did not want to visit Mr Seng at the hospital yesterday.
But he was relieved to hear that he had undergone a skin graft operation and was recovering.
News spread fast
Mr Koo said that when the incident happened, he was at Block 627, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 9, which is next to the community club.
'The news spread very fast,' said Mr Koo. 'We heard that someone had attacked Mr Seng and set him on fire.
'Though a lot of people rushed over to see what had happened, I did not join them because I did not want people to think I was the attacker again.'
Still, Mr Koo said, there were people pointing fingers at him. He said: 'One of the residents came over and asked my friend if the attacker was the same Ah Pek who attacked Mr Seng two years ago.
'My friend told him not to talk nonsense and, pointing to me, he said that I was the 'Ah Pek'.
'Setting someone on fire is a very dangerous thing to do. It's very different from what I did the last time.'
He now believes there is no reason for anyone to attack an MP whose main job is to help people.
When he had hit Mr Seng 21/2 years ago, he said, there were a few grassroots volunteers around.
One stretched out his hand to prevent the attack, but it was too late.
Is it necessary to take more steps to protect MPs when they are on the ground?
MPs say a police presence is not required at grassroots events except when Ministers are present.
It would be too taxing on police manpower resources to have police officers on standby for all grassroots events.
Madam Halimah Yacob, an MP for Jurong GRC, said: 'When we are at functions, police are not required. Because there are so many functions, we can't expect them to be present for everyone of them.
'There are 84 constituencies in Singapore; the police can't be expected to be present at all events. Sometimes in one day I can have four functions, one after another.
'Plus there's really no need, there's no danger.'
Charged
After the latest incident, another former cabby, Ong Kah Chua, 70, was charged with setting the MP ablaze with thinner and a stove lighter.
Only grassroots leaders were there to help Mr Seng during the event when the act took place.
Mr Seng had just finished giving out hongbao and bursaries to 180 needy or elderly people and students at the Yio Chu Kang Community Club.
The chairman of the neighbouring Chu Sheng Temple, Mr Aw Chui Seng, 69, was sitting next to Mr Seng at the time.
Mr Aw reportedly pushed the assailant away and ended up sustaining burns on his arms.
The police were alerted when they received a call from a member of the public at noon on Sunday.
MP Set Ablaze: How can it happen again?
Ex-cabby who punched MP Seng Han Thong in 2006:
People ask if I have attacked MP Seng again
By Vivien Chan
January 14, 2009
TNP PICTURE: KELVIN CHNG
THE man who attacked MP Seng Han Thong earlier still regrets being so quick-tempered then.
All the more because Mr Seng not only forgave Mr Koo Tong Huat and saved him from being convicted, but also helped him with a compensation claim.
The former cabby, 77, never thought Mr Seng would be attacked again.
Mr Koo said he felt sorry for Mr Seng.
'He's a good man and he does not deserve this,' he said.
His assault on Mr Seng happened during a Meet-the-People session in 2006. He had wanted help in getting his revoked taxi licence reinstated.
He ended up punching Mr Seng, who suffered a bruised lip.
Mr Koo was charged, but the matter was later settled out of court.
That same month, he took out a $460 newspaper advertisement to thank Mr Seng. He believed it was Mr Seng who helped him receive $387.98 in compensation from his former taxi company for an accident.
'Mr Seng is a very good person,' said Mr Koo. 'I respect him, and we bear no hard feelings against each other over what happened in 2006.'
He said that he frequently goes to Mr Seng's community events in the area, and both men acknowledge each other with a nod of the head and a smile.
'We smile at each other, but we don't talk. I don't want people to think that I am doing it for show,' he said.
It is for this reason that he did not want to visit Mr Seng at the hospital yesterday.
But he was relieved to hear that he had undergone a skin graft operation and was recovering.
News spread fast
Mr Koo said that when the incident happened, he was at Block 627, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 9, which is next to the community club.
'The news spread very fast,' said Mr Koo. 'We heard that someone had attacked Mr Seng and set him on fire.
'Though a lot of people rushed over to see what had happened, I did not join them because I did not want people to think I was the attacker again.'
Still, Mr Koo said, there were people pointing fingers at him. He said: 'One of the residents came over and asked my friend if the attacker was the same Ah Pek who attacked Mr Seng two years ago.
'My friend told him not to talk nonsense and, pointing to me, he said that I was the 'Ah Pek'.
'Setting someone on fire is a very dangerous thing to do. It's very different from what I did the last time.'
He now believes there is no reason for anyone to attack an MP whose main job is to help people.
When he had hit Mr Seng 21/2 years ago, he said, there were a few grassroots volunteers around.
One stretched out his hand to prevent the attack, but it was too late.
Is it necessary to take more steps to protect MPs when they are on the ground?
MPs say a police presence is not required at grassroots events except when Ministers are present.
It would be too taxing on police manpower resources to have police officers on standby for all grassroots events.
Madam Halimah Yacob, an MP for Jurong GRC, said: 'When we are at functions, police are not required. Because there are so many functions, we can't expect them to be present for everyone of them.
'There are 84 constituencies in Singapore; the police can't be expected to be present at all events. Sometimes in one day I can have four functions, one after another.
'Plus there's really no need, there's no danger.'
Charged
After the latest incident, another former cabby, Ong Kah Chua, 70, was charged with setting the MP ablaze with thinner and a stove lighter.
Only grassroots leaders were there to help Mr Seng during the event when the act took place.
Mr Seng had just finished giving out hongbao and bursaries to 180 needy or elderly people and students at the Yio Chu Kang Community Club.
The chairman of the neighbouring Chu Sheng Temple, Mr Aw Chui Seng, 69, was sitting next to Mr Seng at the time.
Mr Aw reportedly pushed the assailant away and ended up sustaining burns on his arms.
The police were alerted when they received a call from a member of the public at noon on Sunday.
every dog has its day!!:p
