Heroic deeds for public good recognised

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DESPITE his mild-mannered demeanour, taxi driver Mahmud Zohdy has a courageous heart.

Drawing on that courage, the soft-spoken 45-year-old foiled a snatch theft attempt on a woman at Jalan Brown in Pulau Tikus, Penang, in the middle of October this year.

Relating the incident, he said he and his friends saw a man running from a woman’s car with a handbag after they heard a woman’s cries for help.

“We ran after him and managed to catch him,” said Mahmud.

He was among 10 members of the public who received letters of appreciation from George Town OCPD Asst Comm Gan Kong Meng during the monthly gathering at the police district headquarters on Patani Road yesterday.

ACP Gan presenting appreciation letters to police officers during the monthly gathering at the police district headquarters on Patani Road.

His friend, V. Baskaran, 43, who was also at the scene to help out, said the response from the taxi drivers nearby was swift as all of them felt obligated to help the victim.

“We felt that it is our responsibility to stop the thief from escaping,” said the part-time taxi driver, who also works as a clerical officer in a property developer company.

Another recipient of the commendation letter was Beh Weng Meng, 59, who is one of the Bukit Bendera Resident Association members who assisted the police in locating hikers lost their way.

“I am honoured to have been able to assist the police,” said Beh.

Well done: (from left) Baskaran, Beh and Mahmud having a chat after receiving their appreciation letters.

Earlier in his speech, ACP Gan said that it was vital for the society and other agencies to work together with the police to reduce the crime rate. He also presented commendation letters to some 40 people including members of the police, Fire Department as well as the Civil Defence Department.