Lawyer: Not taking action on Mat Over a ‘slap in the face’

DAP MP Ramkarpal Singh says the authorities are sending the message that people can get away with committing offences, even in front of the PM.

PETALING JAYA: Bukit Bendera MP Ramkarpal Singh has urged Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar to take action against actor-comedian Mat Over for slapping film producer David Teo, warning that failure to do so will send the wrong message to the people.

In a statement today, he said there was “no doubt” that Mat Over, whose real name is Sulaiman Yassin, had committed an offence and could be charged for assault.

A scuffle broke out between Sulaiman and Teo at a Transformasi Nasional 2050 (TN50) dialogue attended by Prime Minister Najib Razak on Wednesday evening.

Teo had criticised the session’s moderator, Rosyam Nor, for allegedly overlooking the audience seated at the back of the hall when taking questions or suggestions.

Sulaiman, apparently unhappy with the manner is which Teo was speaking, walked over to him in front of everyone and slapped him.

The incident was caught on video, with a number of clips taken by different individuals becoming viral on social media that very night.

Security officials subsequently escorted both men from the venue, a hall at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya. The two later re-emerged to reconcile in front of Najib and the audience.

“Khalid is well aware that action can be taken against Sulaiman regardless of whether a police report is lodged by Teo as the video recording of what happened is obvious,” Ramkarpal said.

The DAP legislator called on the top cop to take necessary steps to arrest Sulaiman and investigate him for assault.

“Khalid’s failure to do so will undoubtedly be seen as a major dereliction of duty on his part and sends a message that people can get away with committing offences even when it is committed in front of the prime minister.”

He added that the failure to act in this matter would erode public confidence in the efficiency of the police force and if the case was not addressed properly, it would be a “slap in the face” of the rule of law in Malaysia.

Ramkarpal said the incident was also a reflection of the erosion of the rule of law and poor security standards, as well as of Sulaiman’s lack of respect for the prime minister.

He said video footage clearly showed Sulaiman charging “menacingly” towards Teo in the presence of two police officers who were next to Teo.

“It ought to have been obvious by then that there was a need to have restrained or apprehended Sulaiman before he reached Teo, yet the said two police officers did absolutely nothing to prevent the incident from happening when they so easily could have before it happened.

“What if Sulaiman’s target was the prime minister instead? Would security have been so relaxed?”

Following the incident, Mohd Ali Baharom, better known as Ali Tinju, claimed that Teo was hired by “irresponsible politicians” to disrupt the event. The allegation has since been dismissed by Teo.

Several NGOs, including Gerakan Memartbatkan Pejuang Negara (GMPN), have also demanded Teo apologise for supposedly behaving rudely in front of Najib, failing which they would push for action to be taken against him by the authorities. -FMT