Good morning. Here's our news and views that matter for today.

Key Highlights

  • A plea for justice

  • Umno vs DAP again

  • Last chase for Dr M’s sons


A plea for justice

Ong Ing Keong could not hold back tears when a dash cam video clip was played at a press conference depicting how he was assaulted by a police personnel escorting Johor regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

The 48-year-old deaf e-hailing driver’s lawyers are frustrated that the perpetrator has not been charged.

“I don’t know why, as the evidence is clear. No one has been brought to justice,” exclaimed N Surendran.

However, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said the errant personnel had been subjected to internal disciplinary action.

Responding to this, Surendran said a criminal charge should be brought against the perpetrator because the incident caused trauma to his client and is a case of public interest.

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Umno vs DAP again

DAP national vice-chairperson Teresa Kok and Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh have locked horns over a controversial comic book.

Both Umno and PAS have criticised the book titled “Belt and Road Initiative for Win-Winism” by DAP member Hew Kuan Yau’s as containing elements of Communism.

Kok chided the Umno leaders for not respecting the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court’s decisions on the matter.

Akmal disagreed, saying: “Who said we (Umno) do not respect the court decision? But respecting the decision does not mean we agree with it.”

“That’s why we are asking the government to file a judicial review against the decision, in line with the laws, as the matter is sensitive to the Malays,” he added.

On a sarcastic note, Akmal asked if Kok, who is the MP for Seputeh, understood his earlier statement on the matter, failing which he offered to “sketch” it or translate it into Chinese for her.

“If we are authoritarian, you can’t even live here, let alone become an MP. Respect the rights of the majority in the country before you ask for your freedom of speech to be respected,” he added.

Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil has responded that Putrajaya respected the court’s ruling over the book.

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Last chance for Dr M’s sons

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s sons Mirzan and Mokhzani have been given a final extension to declare their assets to MACC.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the brothers have until mid-September to do so.

“That will be final. If they fail to comply, MACC will take legal action,” he cautioned the two businesspersons.

On Jan 18, Mirzan and Mokhzani were served with a notice under Section 36(1)(b) of the MACC Act 2009, requiring them to declare all movable and immovable assets in their possession.

The following month, the brothers issued a media statement appealing for patience and understanding for their “impossible endeavour” of collating 43 years’ worth of information.

On May 24, it was reported that Mirzan and Mokhzani applied to MACC to extend the deadline for the duo to declare their assets after being granted an extension earlier.

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Views that matter

By R Nadeswaran
By Ooi Kok Hin
By Benedict Lopez

Other news that matter

  • Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is confident that national issues played up by Perikatan Nasional throughout the Nenggiri by-election campaign will not undermine the support for BN’s candidate.

  • The Malaysian Medical Association has urged the government to digitalise its headcount system to address manpower shortages in the healthcare sector.

  • PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin has advised Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli to disregard rumours concerning his position.

HIGHLIGHTS