5 Things To Know About The 'Mat Kilau VS Bruce Lee' Road Rage Incident
Speaking to SAYS, the Bezza driver's wife confirmed that her husband suffers from a mental health condition.
Cover image via Malaysian Crime Watch - MyWatch (Facebook)A video capturing a physical altercation between two men at the Bukit Tambun Toll Plaza in Penang went viral over the weekend, sparking widespread speculation over what led to the incident
In the 28-second video, a shirtless man driving a blue Perodua Bezza can be seen attempting to swing a stick at a Honda Civic driver, who quickly shifts into a defensive stance to dodge the attacks.
The shirtless man then performs a brief martial arts routine, seemingly as an act of intimidation, while the Civic driver remains on guard for the next attack.
The video ends shortly after another individual steps in to defuse the situation.
As of yesterday, 2 June, South Seberang Perai district police chief Supt Jay January Siowou confirmed that the police are currently tracking down one of the men in the video, reported Bernama.
The case will be investigated under Section 323 and Section 506 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation, respectively.
Below is the video, which has been dubbed 'Hang Jebat VS Wong Fei Hung' or 'Mat Kilau VS Bruce Lee':
Since the video went viral, more information has emerged to shed light on what transpired before the altercation.
Here are five things you need to know:
1. The altercation reportedly stemmed from a rear-end collision
According to FMT, Jay January said further investigations are ongoing, but it is believed that the fight was triggered by a rear-end collision.
"The incident involved a rear-end collision which led to an argument, property damage, as well as allegations of physical assault and criminal intimidation by one of the men involved," the district police chief said in a statement.
Image via Facebook
2. The Bezza driver allegedly swerved dangerously into the Civic driver's lane before intentionally rear-ending his vehicle
This information was revealed by the Civic driver in a Facebook post on Saturday, 31 May, after seeing a flood of misinformation circulating online.
According to him, the Bezza driver veered dangerously from the emergency lane into his lane as they approached the Bukit Tambun Toll Plaza, prompting him to honk.
"I gestured to the driver to calm down and suggested we pull over after exiting the toll to resolve the matter. But just as we were at the toll booth, the other driver suddenly threw an object resembling a blade or sword at my car through his car window.
"I exited my vehicle to say, 'Let's talk this out after [driving through the toll plaza],'" he recounted.
Below is one of the dashcam videos uploaded by the Civic driver:
3. Dashcam footage shows the Bezza driver brandishing a weapon out of his window before the altercation
In a dashcam video uploaded to Facebook by the Civic driver, the Bezza driver can be seen holding a stick out of his window while driving along the expressway.
The video, timestamped at 5.12pm on Friday, 30 May, was recorded roughly four minutes before the confrontation at the toll booth.
The Civic driver expressed gratitude to a bystander who supplied the dashcam footage, which captured both the dangerous driving and the act of brandishing a weapon.
"I'm sharing the full video today not only to protect myself but also to reveal the full truth.
"I will no longer tolerate the online attacks caused by maliciously edited clips. Please stop spreading misinformation," he said.
Below is one of the dashcam videos uploaded by the Civic driver:
4. The Civic driver suffered an injury to his finger after the altercation
According to his police report, the Bezza driver's attack caused swelling to his pinky finger.
He has since sought medical treatment, and a medical note confirmed that he sustained soft tissue injuries.
In his Facebook post, he emphasised that he never intended to attack and was merely defending himself from an individual wielding a weapon.
"I didn't even retaliate because I knew I was capable of defending myself, [and] I chose to restrain myself," he wrote.
Image via Facebook
5. The Bezza driver allegedly fled the scene and abandoned his vehicle
According to Penang Kini, the Bezza driver fled the scene and later abandoned his car in Kampung Permatang Pasir, Kedah.
Speaking to SAYS, the Bezza driver's wife confirmed claims circulating on social media that he suffers from a mental health condition.
"Yes, it is true. He is currently receiving [outpatient] treatment at the psychiatric department of Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital in Sungai Petani," said the wife.
She added that he is still missing and is believed to have hitchhiked to Bukit Beruntung in Selangor.
"The lorry driver who picked him up only realised who he was a day later. We believe he might now be heading to Bentong," she said.
She urged anyone who may have seen her husband to contact Sergeant Intan Suhaira Syed Ibrahim at +6012-5434747.
