PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim must establish an independent commission of inquiry into the assault of a deaf Grab driver by a police escort to a VVIP, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) said today.

LFL director Zaid Malek told reporters that although the investigation papers have been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), no action has been taken to charge the officer involved.

The call by LFL was supported by 35 other non-governmental organisations.

“There is an urgent need for the government to act. The evidence in this case is clear-cut. Justice delayed is justice denied.

“An independent commission of inquiry must be established by the government to investigate why no action has been taken against the officer,” Zaid stated.

Previously, LFL had urged the government to clarify the case, questioning why no one had been prosecuted despite evidence being submitted to the police.

Earlier, Zaid, together with the e-hailing driver, Ong Ing Keong, submitted a memorandum to the prime minister’s office in Putrajaya.

The memorandum was sent following the government’s failure to take action against the police officer who allegedly punched Ong at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

This morning, Ong, accompanied by LFL and representatives from the Malaysian Deaf Advocacy and Well-being Organisation (Dawn), handed over the memorandum to the Prime Minister’s representative. Anwar is currently in Russia for an official visit.

The group gathered outside the Prime Minister’s Office at 11am to demand justice for Ong.

On May 26, Ong, aged 46, was assaulted by a security officer escorting a VVIP outside the St. Regis Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, while he waited to pick up customers. Ong alleged that a man knocked on his car window and then punched him in the face. He lodged two reports at the Brickfields police station and was treated at Kuala Lumpur Hospital for a soft tissue injury.

On May 31, the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, urged the police to investigate the alleged assault, stating that he wanted justice for Ong. He also instructed the police escort team to cooperate fully with the investigation.

Tunku Ismail condemned attempts to involve the royal institution, saying it was inappropriate to link the actions of external security personnel with himself or the royal institution.

Ong was called to Bukit Aman on June 5 to assist in a disciplinary inquiry into the incident. The case is being investigated under Section 323 for causing voluntary hurt. Ong was questioned for four hours, accompanied by his lawyers and an interpreter.

On June 14, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain announced that the investigation papers had been submitted to the AGC. – September 5, 2024.