THE Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has urged the Attorney-General’s Chamber (AGC) to expedite criminal proceedings against a police escort who allegedly attacked a deaf Grab driver in May.
Suhakam said the delay in addressing this serious incident undermined public confidence in the institutions responsible for upholding the rule of law and delivering justice.
Suhakam also asked for clarity as to what kind of action had been taken against the police officer so far.
In a statement today, the human rights body said while it welcomed Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain’s announcement that disciplinary action had been taken, it still wanted to know what type of punitive action, if any, was taken against the said officer.
“As duty bearers entrusted with the protection of the public, police officers have a profound responsibility to uphold and to protect the rights of all individuals, including persons with disabilities.
“Suhakam reaffirms that any abuse of power by law enforcement officers is unacceptable and stands in direct violation of the principles of justice enshrined in our legal framework and international human rights standards.
“The Federal Constitution under Article 8 guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the law, a principle that must be upheld by all public authorities, including the police and the AGC,” the statement read.
On Wednesday, Razarudin said disciplinary action had already been taken against the VVIP escort policeman who was reported to have injured a disabled e-hailing driver in an assault outside The St Regis Kuala Lumpur hotel on May 28.
He added that action was taken immediately after an internal investigation by the Integrity and Standards Compliance Department in early June.
He said policemen with disciplinary problems could be punished with warnings, withholding of salary increments, suspension, and demotion.
Razarudin was responding to Lawyers for Liberty, which published a dashcam video of the victim Ong Ing Keong being assaulted by someone believed to be the security escort of a VIP.
Ong's lawyer, N. Surendran, said the attacker had yet to be penalised despite police claims that the investigation papers had been submitted to the AGC.
In the 90-second video, Ong can be seen behind the wheel of his car waiting for his passenger to put a bag into the boot. A man in a suit knocks on the car window, ordering him to move the vehicle. The driver uses sign language to tell the man that he is waiting for the passenger. A few seconds later, another man in a suit appears and punches Ong.
Suhakam said it was imperative that justice was not only done but was seen to be done, particularly for individuals with special needs.
It stressed the importance of the principle of transparency and accountability in the handling of the case to ensure that the victim was accorded the justice he deserved in a prompt manner.
Suhakam said the public has the right to be informed regarding the progress of the case.
It also urged the AGC to provide prompt regular updates on the actions being taken.
“By taking prompt and transparent actions, the police and the AGC can assuage public concern that abuse of power will not be tolerated, and that the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly those with special needs, will be respected and protected,” Suhakam added. – August 16, 2024.
