Lfl Cries Foul After Agc Drops Zamri Firdaus Cases

---

 


Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) has panned the government after the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute controversial Muslim preachers Zamri Vinoth and Firdaus Wong.
In a statement today, LFL director Zaid Malek said that the response “smacks of double-standards and selective prosecution”.
In contrast, Zaid said that in the 2024 case of Chiok Wai Loong - regarding his comments during the KK-Mart “Allah socks” controversy - the government had acted aggressively and swiftly against the former technician.
“He was nabbed, convicted without legal representation and thrown into jail. It was all done at lightning speed, and he still faces trial at present on criminal charges.
“The directors of the film ‘Mentega Terbang’ also face criminal charges simply for making a film dealing with a Muslim girl grappling with her religion. This, they claim, insulted Islam.
“The treatment meted out to Zamri and Firdaus, who have long made serious and provocative statements touching on religion and race relations, is entirely different.
Zamri Vinoth (left) and Firdaus Wong“The usual hair-trigger and swift action when there is a perceived slight on Islam, as in the cases above, is glaringly absent.
“What else can be surmised, if not that the decision is based upon the need to appease a certain section of voters?” Zaid questioned.
‘Drop other cases immediately’
Zaid said that the decision not to prosecute Zamri and Firdaus illustrates the government’s failure to treat all cases equally, which is a violation of Article 8 of the Federal Constitution. 
Zaid said that this also brings the criminal justice system into disrepute, eroding the public’s trust that the law would be administered equally and fairly.
“Since the government has decided not to proceed in these cases, will they now drop the charges against ‘Mentega Terbang’ and Chiok? We call upon them to do so immediately,” Zaid added.
ADSIn a written reply explaining the AGC’s decision, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said stated that the AGC reached its conclusion after receiving an investigation paper on the duo from the police.
“Based on the response from AGC, there is insufficient evidence to prove the elements of an offence under any legal provision to prosecute the two individuals mentioned in court,” she said in the response to Jelutong MP RSN Rayer.
However, Azalina said the case did not stop there, explaining that, unlike civil cases, criminal cases have no time limits.
Therefore, if there are any new developments, further investigation and review of the case can be carried out, she said. - Mkini

---