Press Statement Released on 5 November 2024
Please download the statement
DAWN expresses profound disappointment and concern over the outcome of the case involving the assault of Ong Ing Keong, a Deaf Grab driver, who was attacked in front of the Hotel St. Regis Kuala Lumpur on 28 May 2024. The court’s decision on 4 November 2024 to fine Muhammad Taufik Ismail RM1,000 for causing injury to Ong has raised serious questions within the Deaf community and the public.
For five months, Ong and the Deaf community waited, hoping the system would deliver a fair and balanced judgment. However, the outcome has left many feeling overlooked, disrespected, and unsupported by those meant to uphold justice.
Ong has endured months of fear and psychological distress, unsure if he could find protection from those entrusted with the law. The court’s decision fails to consider the long-term impact on him and the resilience shown by the Deaf, OKU, and broader communities that have stood by Ong. Instead, the lenient sentencing implies that violence, even by authorities, is tolerable—a view DAWN cannot and will not accept.
DAWN and the Deaf community demand transparency. Is Muhammad Taufik Ismail indeed the individual shown in the CCTV footage from the incident at Hotel St. Regis? Without confirmation from Ong or his legal representatives viewing the CCTV footage, there is no verification that justice has been served on the right individual. If the authorities are confident in this identification, why was Ong not notified directly?
The lack of transparency surrounding the case, including the anonymity afforded to the assailant, raises serious questions about the integrity of the process. Why was the assailant’s identity protected? Why was the case resolved with such haste? This absence of transparency fuels concerns that some individuals or groups may be shielded from accountability due to their positions.
This case, which took over five months to conclude, ended with an extraordinarily light punishment. Many in the Deaf community and across Malaysia view the RM1,000 fine as inadequate, given the trauma Ong has endured. This leniency implies that harm done to the public by those in authority may be easily dismissed, setting a dangerous precedent enabling further abuses without meaningful consequence.
DAWN believes this quick and quiet resolution, without involving the victim or considering the impact on his well-being, is unacceptable. It appears the case was hastily closed in a way that overlooks the victim’s rights and dignity. This lack of transparency and engagement sends a troubling message that individuals, particularly those within the Deaf and OKU communities, are not afforded the same protections or respect in the legal system.
We urge the authorities to revisit this case, ensure transparent proceedings, and provide channels for victims and their communities to be heard and respected. Justice must be seen to be done, and we call for more robust accountability, genuine protection, and fair treatment of all citizens, especially those within vulnerable communities.
The lenient punishment of the assailant suggests a dangerous precedent where those in authority may feel they can act without consequence. Such a stance suggests that even violent acts against citizens may be treated as trivial if committed by someone in power, further undermining the public’s trust in the authorities and the judicial system.
For a just society, accountability must apply equally to all. DAWN stands with Ong Ing Keong and calls for a review of this case. We urge the authorities to consider the impact of their actions on the communities they serve and to ensure that no individual, regardless of status, is above the law. This case represents more than an isolated incident—it reflects the ongoing struggle for equal justice and respect for all Malaysians.