Deaf driver is 'our' people - PKR MP demands answer from law minister

Deaf driver is 'our' people - PKR MP demands answer from law minister

Alyaa Alhadjri, Ili Aqilah & N Faizal Ghazali
Updated: Oct 25, 2024 2:47 AM


PARLIAMENT | A PKR lawmaker is demanding answers for the delay in prosecuting a police officer who assaulted deaf e-hailing driver Ong Ing Keong on May 28.

Hassan Abdul Karim (Harapan-Pasir Gudang) stressed that several months have passed since the incident, and there have been growing calls for justice.

"As an MP and a lawyer, this is going against the principles of justice,” he said in debating the Supply Bill 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Hassan (above) then appeared to take a leaf out of Pahang Crown Prince Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah’s book in stating: “The driver is our people, Ong Ing Keong.”

On Oct 19, the crown prince called on the police to ensure that justice was served in the case of road construction worker Alias Awang, who claimed to have been assaulted and shot at by a member of the Pahang royalty.

"He (Alias) is my people (heart emoji), give him some justice now,” Tengku Hassanal had said in an Instagram post after Alias complained of inaction.

Whereas in Ong’s case, the assailant, who was caught on a dashcam smacking the driver’s face, was escorting Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim. The latter has also called for justice to be delivered to the victim.


MPs must uphold justice for all

Hassan emphasised that MPs are sworn to defend the Federal Constitution and uphold justice for all citizens.

"(But) we cannot defend this deaf disabled person?

“I demand the minister in charge of law (Azalina Othman Said) who is a lawyer, the deputy minister (M Kulasegaran) who is also a lawyer, to answer in this house, when will the attorney-general bring this case to court?" he added.

Driver Ong Ing Keong


Deaf Advocacy and Wellbeing National Organisation (Dawn) first highlighted Ong's case during a press conference hosted by Lawyers for Liberty on May 31.

The group has since continued to demand justice for Ong and highlight systemic challenges faced by deaf persons, including through the launch of a recent online petition.

A total of 3,850 people have signed the petition as of 7.20pm today, since it was first launched on Tuesday.