THE police are investigating a clash between Penang Island City Council (MBPP) enforcement officers and a food truck operator in Padang Kota, George Town, on Tuesday.

Penang police chief T. Narenasegaran said officers were making enquiries under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant from carrying out his duty, Section 427 of the same code for committing mischief, and Section 43 of the Road Transport Act 1987 for dangerous driving.

“Both the trader and the MBPP have lodged police reports. We have also identified those involved and recorded the statements of some of the witnesses,” he told the media after the launching of the E-Bicycle and Strategic Assignment of the Tourist Police Unit at Penang International Airport.

Three recent viral videos recorded some of the incident, which appeared to show enforcement personnel breaking the side window of the food truck, their vehicle blocking the food truck and the two vehicles colliding.

Meanwhile, a spokesman from MBPP’s corporate communications and public relations division said the local authority had already lodged a police report on the incident, which occurred during an integrated operation at 9.20 pm.

According to the spokesman, six personnel from the licensing division and eight from the enforcement department went to Jalan Tun Syed Shah Barakbah.

Several food truck operators were found to operating without valid licenses.

“When the action was being taken, the owner of the vehicle attempted to escape and acted aggressively, crashing into the MBPP enforcement tow truck, and posed a threat to the personnel as well as the public,” he said.

He said according to MBPP records, this was the second case involving the same truck driver, the first time was on October 25, 2017. – Bernama, September 12, 2019.