Kepong's African community fears retribution for murders
By : Evangeline Majawat
KUALA LUMPUR: Members of the African community in Kepong feel they are being “tarred with the same brush” after two Nigerians were arrested on Monday in connection with a double murder.
Many dare not step out of their homes, fearing retribution after the murders of Ang Chin Peng, 36, and 32-year-old Wong Tan Yong.
Innocent African residents have been threatened with physical harm, and some have been chased down the streets.
“We don't dare go out of our homes even to buy food,” said King Chinedu Amaefula.
Yesterday, Amaefula, his family and two fellow Nigerians asked MCA Public Services and Complaint Department head Datuk Michael Chong for help.
“I understand how people feel, but it is unfair for them to take it out on all Africans,” Chong said. “Leave it to the police to investigate.”
Amaefula's friends, Samuel Anointed Iheanacho and Michael Okechukwu Iroka, pleaded with the people not to take the law into their own hands.
“The murderers must be punished,” Iheanacho said. “We promise to work with the police and give any information we can,” Iroka added.
Amaefula, Iheanacho and Iroka are students and have been in Malaysia for about three years.
Amaefula, who is married to Malaysian Revathy Kanesan, said his wife also had to bear the brunt.
Revathy, 27, said that people gave icy stares and threw insults at them when they walked down the street. She was also forced to close her restaurant, which is popular with the African community.
http://www.nst.com.my/Friday/National/20070928080849/Article/index_html