KUCHING, Oct 12: Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen believed there are many `little Napoleons’ (tyrant characters) in the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) who are trying to sabotage the Pakatan Harapan government.
He said even Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in several of his speeches, lamented that they exist in the civil service.
“It is not surprising or out of the ordinary that little Napoleons do exist in the A-G’s Chambers,” Chong told reporters at the Kuching Sessions Court today.
The court had fixed today as the pre-trial case management (PTCM) of the case against former Stampin MP Julian Tan Kok Ping and Chong, who is also former Bandar Kuching MP, after the High Court ordered the duo to enter their defence on the charge of Section 4(2)(c) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which is participating in a street protest. The duo was charged under the Act for allegedly participating in a Bersih 4.0 assembly in Kuching in 2015.
Chong said following the change of the federal government, their legal team made a representation to the AGC to have the case withdrawn.
“But sadly and unfortunately, we received a letter signed by one of the A-G’s Chambers’ deputy public prosecutors (DPPs) to say that our application has been rejected; thus, today’s PTCM, ” he said.
Chong said their legal team would write another representation to apply for the withdrawal of the charge and hand it personally to the A-G.
“I believe our first application, which was rejected, is the doing of a little Napolean in the A-G’s Chambers who tries to sabotage the PH government, ” he said.
Chong gave two reasons to substantiate his suspicion.
Firstly, it is the position of the PH government that for draconian laws, for example, the Sedition Act 1948 and the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which constitute to a certain extent the suppression of freedom of expression, which is guaranteed under the Federal Constitution, no one be charged under these Acts.
“Secondly, we are the only one whereby we are participating in an assembly which was granted permission by the police. It is equally ridiculous that charges of participation in an assembly that was not granted by the police were withdrawn but charges for participation in an assembly that was granted permission by the police to be continued.
“So putting all facts together, we have strong reasons to believe that someone in the A-G’s Chambers is trying to sabotage the PH government. I will consult the de facto law minister to look into this matter, ” he said.
Chong believed the A-G himself had not received the copy of the application letter.
“Even the reply rejecting our application has quoted the wrong date of our letter of representation for withdrawal of the charge,” he said.
Kuching Sessions Court Judge Steve Ritikos today decided that there were two things to be determined first before he could fix the continuation of the trial.
Firstly, whether the A-G himself, through the A-G’s Chambers, would withdraw the charge. Secondly, the Federal Court has previously ruled that should there be any finding of facts that there is a street protest, the Federal Court will proceed to decide whether Section 4(2)(c) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 is constitutional or otherwise.
The court fixed this Dec 17 for further mention of the case. — DayakDaily
