Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that certain cases are time-consuming and advised the public against making premature judgments.
“Yes, sometimes the process takes time. I personally follow such cases, whether they involve persons with disabilities or not.
“But I want to remind everyone that we shouldn’t pass judgment before the investigation is complete.
“The attorney-general must ultimately decide whether to prosecute, based on the facts of the case,” he told reporters outside of a Masjid Darussalam in Puchong today.
Anwar was quizzed on the case involving deaf e-hailing driver Ong Ing Keong, who was assaulted by a police escort of Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim outside a hotel in Kuala Lumpur on May 28.
On Sept 5, Ong, together with Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), submitted a memorandum and a dashcam recording of the assault to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The memorandum urged the prime minister to establish an independent commission of inquiry into the incident, among other things.
LFL also pointed out that the police stated that the investigation papers had been submitted twice to the prosecutors.
Human rights lawyer group adviser N Surendran stated that the lack of action on the assault case after nearly four months has damaged the credibility of Malaysia’s justice system.
“It’s a negation of the rule of law, which holds that every citizen is entitled to equal protection under the law. Where is the protection for a hard-working disabled person gratuitously beaten while at work?
“This delay or failure to charge the offender is incomprehensible, unacceptable, and unforgivable,” he added.
Previously, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil sidestepped the media’s inquiry into Ong’s case, asking for the question to be channelled to the right agency with the authority to take the necessary measures.
On May 28, the 48-year-old driver was punched in the face outside a hotel in Kuala Lumpur by a police personnel escorting Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.
It was also alleged that Ong had inked four reports but contributed to only one, the first report lodged after the incident.
Malaysian Deaf Advocacy and Wellbeing Organisation (Dawn) secretary-general Anthony Chong claimed that the police had prepared the other three reports.
The police have not commented on this allegation, and it remains unclear whether there was an internal investigation into the matter.
Previously, it was reported that the investigation papers were submitted to the AGC twice – on June 5 and July 27 – but there has been no development since then. – Malaysiakini