MCA slams AG for double standard over continued prosecution of Doan

PETALING JAYA: MCA stands with DAP's Ramkarpal Singh in questioning the Attorney General's (AG) decision to withdraw the case against Indonesian citizen Siti Aisyah, but not Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong in the murder case of Kim Jong-nam, says MCA spokesperson Chan Quin Er.

Siti and Doan were jointly charged with the murder of North Korean citizen Kim Jong-nam and both maintained they were deceived into thinking they were pulling a prank for a TV show.

"Our Malaysian law should not discriminate," said Chan, adding that everyone was equal before the law.

Chan said she agreed with the DAP legal bureau chairman who said "Doan has a constitutional right to be treated the way Siti Aisyah was as she is entitled to equal protection of the law.”

"MCA observes that DAP Legal Bureau chairman Ramkarpal Singh emulates the courageous tiger spirit of his late father Karpal Singh in daring to be vocal against the conspicuous practice of double standards by the AG," she added.

Chan said both cases were identical, and that the Vietnam's Foreign Minister had contacted the Foreign Ministry to release Doan, similar to how the Indonesian Minister of Law and Human Rights wrote to the AG to secure Siti’s release.

"Were racial and religious similarities and preferences in our populations the reason for charges against Siti to be dropped, but not for Doan?" Chan added.

On Thursday, Ramkarpal said the refusal of the AG to withdraw the murder charge against Doan was "mind-boggling and raises questions about the powers of the AG".

The AG rejected Doan's plea to have the murder charge against her dropped, while on Monday (March 11), Siti Aisyah was acquitted after prosecutors said they were withdrawing the charge against her.

Following this, the judge discharged Siti Aisyah.

No reason was given by the prosecution as to why they decided to drop the charge against Siti Aisyah.

Siti Aisyah, 26, and Doan, 29, were charged with four others still at large over the murder Jong-nam at the KLIA2 departure hall at 9am on Feb 13, 2017.

The charge, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, provides for the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.