Hanipa: If Amanah chief, I will press for EGM to stay or quit govt

Livid that justice remains elusive in the case of Ong Ing Keong, the deaf e-hailing driver assaulted by a member of the police, Mohamed Hanipa Maidin did not conceal his frustration and disappointment with the coalition government.

Putting himself in the shoes of the Amanah president, the former deputy minister in charge of legal affairs during the Pakatan Harapan administration made it clear that he would not hesitate to press for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM).

“If I were the Amanah president, which I am not interested in nor qualified, I would press for an EGM to vote either to stay or leave the unity government. Period.

“If I were the attorney-general (AG), which I am not interested in nor qualified, I would prosecute the alleged perpetrator of the crime without fear and favour, God willing,” the former Amanah MP told Malaysiakini.

For Hanipa, the trigger was government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil’s response on whether the cabinet had discussed the case and the memorandum that was submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office last week.

“In my view, this is the simplest case. There is an alleged offender. There is a confirmed victim. There is a clear law.

“There is a prime minister who has been declaring to the entire world the new government would defend and establish the rule of law. There is an attorney-general who is entrusted to bring the alleged culprit to a court of law,” he said.

Therefore, Hanipa, commenting on one of the five demands in the memorandum, said there was no need for the prime minister to establish a commission of inquiry.

“What is badly needed is only a political will. Period.

“In my view, this is, with all due respect, grossly shameful,” he added.

Earlier, Malaysiakini reported Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) adviser N Surendran saying over 100 days have passed since the assault involving an escort of Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

“From day one, the police knew who the perpetrator was. The dashcam video of the assault was given to the police on the very day of the incident.

“What possible justification is there for the failure to bring charges against the culprit and anyone else who abetted him or tried to cover up the matter?” he said.

Surendran also highlighted the “pin-drop” silence from the Prime Minister’s Office regarding the memorandum and that LFL’s letter to the AG remained unanswered.

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