M'sian Student, Ashraff Still Traumatised By Robbery And Assault, Says Dad

KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 (Bernama) -- Retired army officer Rossli Harun, whose son Ashraff, was robbed and assaulted by thugs posing as good Samaritans during last summer’s London riots says that his 21-year-old son is still traumatised by the incident. The 50-year-old said the robbery in East London had left a psychological scar on his son, according to the Mail on Sunday newspaper. "Now, when he sees a crowd of people coming towards him in the street, he will cross the road and walk on the other side. "He is still affected by what happened and I don’t know how long that will stay with him. Maybe for a long time," said Rossli who was interviewed together with his wife, Maznah Abu Mansor, a primary school teacher, by journalist Simon Parry, here. Rossli said: "The boy who attacked my son was young – he was only 17. But he wasn’t at school, he wasn’t at work, and he was getting government money. "The system in Britain makes people lazy. In Malaysia, if you want to earn money, you have to work. And if you want to earn more money, you have to study hard. "In Britain, people who work pay tax and it goes to people who do no work. I don’t understand that." A video footage of Ashraff’s ordeal – captured on a witness’s mobile phone – was seen around the world where it showed the accountancy student, bloodied and dazed after being punched and robbed of his bicycle, hauled to his feet by two men who made as if to help him. In doing so, they stole a games console and games worth £500 (US$661.21) from his rucksack. Last Friday, 22-year-olds John Kafunda, of Ilford, and Reece Donovan, of Romford, were convicted at Wood Green Crown Court of violent disorder, robbery and later burgling a Tesco store. At an earlier trial, 17-year-old Beau Isagba was found guilty of punching and breaking Ashraff’s jaw during the initial bicycle theft. Following the attack on Aug 8, Ashraff’s parents were shown around London by MPs and dignitaries. Their experience convinced them that Britain was a friendly and fundamentally decent country – but also left them with a worrying impression that the flames of the unrest may have been fanned by a system that overindulges troublemakers and the workshy, Parry wrote. "This kind of system is not good," said Rossli, whose only trip outside Malaysia before London was a tour of duty in Bosnia in the 1990s. "I believe if you are physically well, if there is nothing wrong with you, you should work. They shouldn’t give money to people who can work but don’t. "You should only give money to the right people – people who are disabled, people who are ill, people who are in hardship. But not to people who are well and can work, but choose not to." And he was also critical of the London police for their action or lack of it during the London riots, saying that the police in Malaysia would have taken action sooner. "When something like this happens, they (the Malaysian government) take action. They don’t let it get out of control. The streets (in Malaysia) are safe." Ashraff's grandfather, Abu Mansor Mohammad Noh, 79, said he believed his grandson should stay in the UK. "I still think England is a good place and I am proud of my grandson for earning the opportunity to study there. He is the first person in my family to study abroad," he said. "What happened to Ashraff doesn’t make me feel bad towards Britain. It is just a certain kind of person who does these things. I believe most in Britain are very good people." -- BERNAMA