Deaf driver assault: Mat Sabu dodges question on Hanipa's remarks

Amanah president Mohamad Sabu dodged questions about a party colleague calling out the government over its inaction on the assault case of a deaf e-hailing driver.

This comes after Amanah supreme council member Mohamed Hanipa Maidin said that if he were party president, he would call for an extraordinary general meeting to review the party’s stand in the coalition government.

“I refuse to comment… let’s focus on Maha first,” he said briefly when attending the Malaysia Agriculture Horticulture and Agrotourism Show 2024 earlier today.

Pressed further on the matter, the minister remarked that Amanah secretary-general Muhammad Faiz Fadzil had already stated the matter.

“It’s okay… the secretary-general has answered. I’ll leave it at that,” Mohamad (above) said.

Yesterday, a miffed Hanipa said that if he were Amanah president, he would call for an EGM to determine their status in the coalition government over the lack of action in Ong Ing Keong’s assault case.

“If I were the Amanah president, which I am neither interested in nor qualified for, 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 neither interested in nor qualified for, I would prosecute the alleged perpetrator of the crime without fear and favour, God willing,” the former Amanah MP told Malaysiakini.

Deafening silence

Also yesterday, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) adviser N Surendran lamented that the wheels of justice seem to have ground to a halt regarding Ong’s assault.

He compared it to the swift action taken in the 3R-related (race, religion, royalty) investigations against Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin and DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok.

Surendran said the failure to act on the assault case after 105 days brings the administration of justice in Malaysia into disrepute.

The lawyer also questioned the Prime Minister’s Office’s “deafening silence” on the memorandum submitted by LFL on the matter, as well as the lack of response from the Attorney-General’s Chambers over the same issue.

Not Amanah’s stance

Separately, Faiz said Hanipa’s comments did not represent the party’s stance on the matter and believed that the authorities would handle the case fairly.

In a statement shared on Facebook today, the Amanah secretary-general said the party reaffirms its position in supporting the government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and asserts that it is on the right track to steering the country towards a more progressive future.

“Therefore, the strength of the unity government will always be Amanah’s main agenda,” he said.

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