Anarchy in UK - London Riots: Malaysian student mugged...

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Malaysian student mugged during riots to stay in UK

Ashraf Haziq, the Malaysian accountancy student who was filmed being mugged by rioters while sitting on the ground injured, says he wants to stay in the UK to finish his studies.

Haziq, 20, from Kuala Lumpur, said he felt sorry for his attackers. He was left with a broken jaw in a now notorious attack in Barking, east London on Monday - but said he still felt 'great' about Britain

Go to http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2011/aug/12/malaysian-student-mugged-riots-uk-video

British riots: Millions feel for Asyraf

By RAHIMY RAHIM rahimyr@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: The scene of rioters in London assaulting and robbing Malaysian student Mohd Asyraf Haziq Rossli has touched the hearts of millions around the world after a video clip of it went viral on the Internet.

The clip has become an iconic symbol of the senseless violence in Britain, with even its Prime Minister David Cameron singling out the incident.

The video titled “London Riots-scum steal from injured boy” was ranked seventh most viewed video on YouTube this week with more than 2.9 million viewers worldwide.


Facebook fan pages were also created with “Support for student Mohd Asyraf Haziq, robbed while bleeding heavily,” given 249 likes while “Get Well Soon Asyraf Haziq,” got 990 likes until yesterday.

Mugged in London: Umno Information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan pointing out the still images of Mohd Asyraf being robbed while the latter’s mother, father and younger brother look on yesterday. 

Jamie Cowen, a former worker of Britain-based Save the Children, has launched an Internet campaign to help Mohd Asyraf.

Based on Cowen's Twitter account, the campaign has so far raised some 4,000 (about RM19,350) with contributions still pouring in.

“Over 1,200 people have donated,” he said, adding that among the donors was a British bicycle firm pledging Mohd Asyraf a new one since his was stolen.

Among other donations were two first-class tickets by a British railway company for Mohd Asyraf to travel anywhere and free dental service from dentist Martin Nakisa in Britain.

The website “Let's Do Something Nice For Ashraf” (www.somethingniceforashraf.tumblr.com) also received thousands of supporters within hours of its launch on Wednesday.

In a video shot by his friend, Mohd Asyraf said from his bed in the Royal London Hospital that he was cycling with another student to visit a friend when a gang of about 20 headed towards him.

“I think some had knives. The youngest looked like he was of primary school age. They came in a group, they didn't attack at first. They wanted the bicycle.

“And then there was someone who put a hand in my pocket to take my phone. He pulled the bicycle and I don't know what happened. I fell and my mouth was bleeding. So, maybe I got hit,” Mohd Asyraf said in Malay.

“The people fled the scene. Others then approached me and said they wanted to help, but instead those behind me just took stuff from my backpack,” he added.

Asyraf’s parents leaving for England today

KUALA LUMPUR: The parents of the Malaysian student attacked and robbed by rioters in London will fly to England today.

Umno Information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan said it would sponsor three flight tickets worth about RM20,000 for Mohd Asyraf Haziq Rossli’s parents and his younger brother.

“The London Umno Club will meet them at the airport and will arrange accommodation and food expenses during the stay,” he said after meeting the family at Putra World Trade Centre yesterday.

Mohd Asyraf’s mother Maznah Abu Mansoor, 47, said she was relieved that Umno had stepped forward to help.

“Before this, we were on our own, asking for help from friends and family,” said the teacher.

She added that Wisma Putra had contacted her at 5am yesterday to say that her son’s jaw corrective surgery had been successful and that he was doing well.

He left the hospital yesterday.

Maznah said she had also accepted Mohd Asyraf’s wish to continue studying there although she was shocked by the assault.

“We were stunned when we watched the YouTube video and saw him bleeding,” said Maznah, who will be in London with her husband, ex-army officer Rossli Harun, 49, and her youngest son Muhammad Fitri, eight, for at least a week.

In Kota Kinabalu, Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman said Kaplan University, where Mohd Asyraf is studying, had also offered to fly his parents to London, adding that the offer was made when its officials met Malaysian officials on Wednesday.

In Kajang, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said there were lessons to be learnt from the riots, adding that Malaysians should be grateful.

He said it was important to ensure there were no such riots due to the country’s multi-racial and multi-religious society.

“It is an issue which we should not take lightly,” Hishammuddin said, adding that it was up to the public to decide if their perception of the police, who came under fire for Bersih 2.0, had changed due to events in Britain.

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