The family of a 70-year-old man assaulted in a road rage incident in Cheras on Sunday is weighing further legal action after the perpetrator was fined RM5,500 upon pleading guilty.
Trader Saiful Adli Yusof, 52, admitted in the magistrate’s court to assaulting and threatening to kill Liew Khoon Foo following a minor traffic collision. The court imposed a fine of RM5,500, a decision that has since drawn criticism from the victim’s family and members of the public.
Khoon Foo was reportedly kicked and slapped during the altercation, leaving him with a swollen eye and a tongue injury that required six stitches. Incidents of violence stemming from minor road disputes have increasingly sparked concerns about motorists’ safety and emotional control behind the wheel.
His daughter, Cindy, said the family was distressed by what they perceived as a light sentence and is now seeking legal advice on possible next steps.
“He is conscious and stable, but the shock has affected him. His appetite is not as good as before,” she said, adding that her father remains traumatised by the incident.
Khoon Foo underwent a comprehensive medical examination at Kuala Lumpur Hospital, which confirmed there were no internal injuries. He was prescribed pain medication but declined additional treatment.
Cindy expressed disappointment that the court did not order any compensation for medical expenses or related losses, saying the outcome had left the family deeply unsettled.
“I feel the sentence is too light. I don’t want to see another motorist suffering the same fate. Even if my father was at fault in the accident, no one has the right to retaliate with violence.
“What if he had been beaten to death? Who would be responsible then?” she questioned.
She warned that lenient penalties risk sending the wrong signal to society.
“If the law is too lenient, people may think that as long as they have money, they can resort to violence and pay their way out of it. For wealthy individuals, they would just settle the fine and be on their way,” she said, calling for stricter enforcement and heavier punishments to deter similar cases.
The case gained widespread attention after a video of the assault circulated on social media, igniting debate over road rage, public safety and sentencing standards. The incident has reignited broader discussions on whether current penalties adequately reflect the seriousness of violent conduct in public spaces.
Several social activists criticised the punishment as insufficient and argued that it failed to serve as a meaningful deterrent.
Community Policing Malaysia chairman Kuan Chee Heng described the sentence as inadequate, although he acknowledged it fell within the scope of the law.
“It is within the ambit of the law, but as a layman and an ordinary Malaysian, I do not think the punishment is adequate.
“We do not know all the factors considered by the court, but from the public’s perspective, this should not be viewed as an isolated case. It is a matter of public concern,” he said.
National Road Safety Council chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye also weighed in, saying the case reflected a perceived lack of “social justice”.
“While we must always respect the independence of the judiciary, we cannot ignore the growing sentiment that the punishment meted out in this instance does not commensurate with the gravity of the violence displayed,” he said.
