MCA ready to prosecute Umno man

PETALING JAYA: The MCA Youth’s legal bureau today expressed regret over the delay by the Attorney-General’s Chamber in prosecuting the assailant of Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan, and said the bureau was willing to do the job on behalf of the AG’s Chambers.

The bureau chief Choo Wei Sern said in a statement today that it has been almost a week since the Selangor police chief Mohd Shukri Dahlan said the police has submitted the investigation papers on the incident to the AG’s Chambers, but to no avail.

In the Jan 12 incident, a teacher who was also the Hulu Selangor Umno Youth official, threw a punch at Kamalanathan during an event in Bukit Beruntung. The Umno official was believed to be dissatisfied with the deputy minister as his request to transfer his relative to Selangor was ignored.

“The AG’s Chambers ought to realise that justice delayed is justice denied.

“More so, in a high profile case like this which involves a deputy minister, the delay by AG’s Chambers will seriously impede public confidence in the AG’s Chambers.

“The chambers is seen to be deliberately delaying taking any action or worse, refusing to take action against the suspect merely because of his political affiliation and background,” he said.

Choo said should the AG’s Chambers fail to act, then it might as well appoint MCA’s group of lawyers under the Criminal Procedure Code to act as prosecutors on a pro bono basis to ensure justice is upheld.

“We believe this is the right cause to fight for, and this must be the very same cause the attorney-general fights for and carry out,” he said.

MIC: Don’t put pressure on the AG Chambers

In a related development, MIC’s legal advisor Selva Mookiah said the AG Chambers should be allowed to undertake its duties without pressure or interference from any parties.

While he appreciated MCA’s concern on the matter, he nevertheless cautioned the Chinese-based party from turning the incident into a “us versus them” scenario.

“The due process of the law must be observed at all times. The AG Chambers will need to evaluate the investigation papers in accordance with their procedures.

“I am absolutely confident with the AG Chambers and its processes. At this juncture, it is MIC’s position that physical attack should never be condoned, no matter what the grievances are.

“We cannot allow mob rule and on the same token the alleged perpetrator should not be punished without a thorough investigation. Let the AG Chambers undertake its duties without pressure or interference,” he added in a statement.

-FMT