The petition, started by “Equal justice for Malaysians”, is directed at Prime Minister Najib Razak and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said.
The petition, which has collected 23,183 signatures so far, said the offence committed by Datin Rozita Mohd Ali towards her maid was “despicable, inhumane and clearly should result in stricter punishment than a ‘good behaviour bond’”.
“She should be charged with attempted murder or intent to cause serious bodily harm.
“We elected a government that should not have any influence on our justice system.
“Even if she’s a datin, rich and has connections, it doesn’t give her the right to treat people like that.
“What message are we sending to our people and children? Malaysia needs to seriously look at our human rights issues,” the petition reads.
Among those who signed the petition was Lia Dewiyanti, who stated: “Tegakkan keadilan untuk tenaga kerja wanita Indonesia” (Uphold justice for the Indonesian female workforce).
Another person, Audrey Risly, who signed, wrote: “The perp must be punished. What she has done was intentional and malicious. There is no doubt about that. No crime, especially one that purposely endangers the life of another, should go unpunished.”
A video of the maid, Suyanti Sutrinso, then aged 19, seriously injured and lying near a drain in a housing area in Mutiara Damansara, had gone viral in December 2016.
It was then reported that Rozita had allegedly used a kitchen knife, a clothes hanger, a steel mop and an umbrella to cause multiple injuries to Suyanti’s head, hands, legs and internal organs.
Rozita was initially charged with attempted murder. She was later charged under Section 326 for voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
The housewife was bound over for five years on a good behaviour bond of RM20,000 by Petaling Jaya Sessions Court judge Mohammed Mokhzani Mokhtar after she changed her plea and pleaded guilty to causing grievous hurt.
Many, including lawyers, had expressed shock and outrage that she was not sent to jail.
Lawyer Ramkarpal Singh said the Sessions Court had erred in meting out the sentence on Rozita Mohamed Ali, who assaulted Suyanti.
“The law no longer provides for a good behaviour bond in cases which involve serious offences, defined in the Penal Code as an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term of 10 years or more,” said Ramkarpal.
He said Section 326, under which Rozita was charged, provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and comes within the definition of a “serious offence”.
Prominent rights lawyer Eric Paulsen questioned the court’s decision despite hearing 10 witnesses, including the victim and doctors, who treated her.
“We are unable to see what extenuating circumstances could have made Rozita deserving to be bound over for such a serious offence when she had caused multiple injuries to the victim’s hands, head, legs and internal organs,” said Paulsen, who heads Lawyers for Liberty.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers has filed a notice of appeal against the inadequacy of the sentence.