AGC's inaction will embolden Zamri, Firdaus - NGO leader

The Attorney-General’s Chambers’ decision not to prosecute preachers Zamri Vinoth and Firdaus Wong would only embolden the duo to continue their insults against non-Islamic faiths, said the Global Human Rights Federation.

“This is not only a blatant discrimination but also a direct violation of Article 11 of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of religion for all Malaysians.

“This is a clear failure of the Madani government and the very reforms it promised to uphold. The trust we once had in this administration is now lost,” the NGO’s president S Shashi Kumar told Malaysiakini today.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said told the Dewan Rakyat that the AGC decided not to prosecute Zamri and Firdaus as there was insufficient evidence.

“Based on the response from AGC, there is insufficient evidence to prove the elements of an offence under any legal provision to prosecute the two individuals mentioned in court,” she said in a written parliamentary response to Jelutong MP RSN Rayer.

The decision drew brickbats from MIC president SA Vigneswaran, who reminded the government that the 3R (race, religion, royalty) principle is not a legal tool to defend the sanctity of only one religion.

“If the 3R doctrine is to have any meaning in today’s Malaysia, it must be applied across all faiths, with fairness, firmness, and integrity,” Vigneswaran added.

Double standards

Meanwhile, Shashi accused the AGC of practising double standards, where cases involving insults against non-Islamic faiths are not acted upon by invoking the attorney-general’s absolute authority on prosecutorial matters under Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution.

“This selective prosecution has undermined justice and fuels public distrust in our legal system.

“It also infringes Article 8 of the Federal Constitution, which provides equality under the law,” he added.

Instead of merely stating there is not enough evidence to prosecute the preachers, Shashi said the AGC should explain their decision to the public in detail.

The NGO leader added that he is also prepared to debate Azalina and the attorney-general on the matter.

Shashi said his team provided ample evidence to the police and the court in the past, highlighting the duo’s clear violation of the Sedition Act, but only to be dismissed due to “insufficient evidence”.

“Instead of brushing it off, they should come forward and explain exactly what they mean by ‘insufficient evidence’.

“The public deserves transparency, not excuses,” he added.

In December last year, the Court of Appeal dismissed a final appeal by GHRF to initiate private prosecution against Zamri and Firdaus.

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