KUALA LUMPUR – The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) must clarify perceived inconsistencies and potential double standards in charging decisions involving fatal road crashes driven by drug or alcohol impairment, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Deputy Secretary-General Sivamalar Genapathy said today.
Sivamalar raised concerns following the death of 22-year-old Maldivian student Aamina Imeely Nazim, who died after an accident involving an e-hailing driver allegedly under the influence of methamphetamine, where the suspect was charged under the Road Transport Act 1987 and granted RM9,000 bail.
“Why does one fatal accident result in a murder charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code, while another results in charges under the Road Transport Act? The law must operate fairly regardless of race, religion, gender, nationality, wealth or social status,” Sivamalar stated in a media release today.
Sivamalar highlighted several recent cases where drivers testing positive for substances faced Section 302 murder charges without bail, including fatal accidents in Klang and Teluk Intan earlier this year that claimed the lives of local victims.
Querying whether media intensity or public outrage influences prosecutorial decisions, Sivamalar emphasized that foreign nationals must receive equal constitutional protection under Article 8(1) of the Federal Constitution.
Sivamalar urged the AGC to provide a transparent explanation regarding its charging guidelines and low bail recommendations to maintain public trust in the impartial administration of justice. -MalayaDailyToday
