Malaysian businessman Vinod Sekhar, chairman and chief executive of Petra Group, was attacked last week in London by two unidentified individuals. He suffered minor injuries in the assault but emerged “relatively unscathed”, according to a Facebook post he shared about the incident.
Sekhar revealed that his wife intervened during the attack, fighting off the assailants. He also reflected on the difference in safety between London and his home city of Kuala Lumpur.
The attack in London
The Petra Group chairman explained that the incident occurred outside his daughter Tara’s apartment, located near Battersea Power Station. The family had returned to the apartment after spending the day in Oxford.
“But as I parked and stepped out of the car, two men suddenly appeared,” Sekhar said.
During the assault, the attackers tore his watch from his wrist and left him with minor bruising and light bleeding.
“They rushed at me, smothered me, hit me a few times on the chest and thighs, and tore the watch off my wrist. I tried to hold on but couldn’t — my post-transplant medication and health simply didn’t allow it,” he wrote, referring to the heart transplant he had undergone in India last year.
Wife fights off attackers
Sekhar’s wife, Winy Yeap, stepped in to protect him. He described her actions vividly:
“And then, like the lioness she’s always been, my wife jumped in — swinging her bag, shouting at them, fearless and protective. In that moment, the muggers fled on electric Lime bikes. I was bruised, bleeding lightly (thanks to the blood thinners it looked worse than it was), but relatively unscathed.”
When the London Metropolitan Police arrived minutes later, one officer reportedly told Sekhar he had been fortunate, as the attackers might have used knives had he resisted further.
Reflections on safety
Sekhar ended his post with a reflection on his home city, Kuala Lumpur, praising its security and community spirit.
“And as I reflect on it all, I am deeply grateful for the city I call home — Kuala Lumpur. For all our noise, our chaos, and our politics, it remains one of the safest, warmest, most vibrant cities in the world. A place where kindness still outweighs cruelty, and where, despite our imperfections, we remain a nation of extraordinary people,” he said.
Sekhar, a recipient of the Global Indian Award, also offered advice to tourists, urging caution and prioritising safety over valuables.
“When you travel — to London or anywhere — be careful. Don’t wear expensive watches, carry flashy bags, or assume the streets are as safe as they look. And if something like this happens to you, let it go. A watch, a wallet, a phone — these are replaceable. Your life, your loved ones, your friends are not,” he wrote.
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