S Shashi Kumar of the Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF), said the fact that no explanation was provided for the postponement added insult to injury.

“We are beyond frustrated,” Shashi told FMT.

Shashi said the Court of Appeal had deferred its decision three times, including today.

He said a decision was initially scheduled for 9am, but when he and his lawyer S Ravichandran arrived, they were informed that it was rescheduled for 2.30pm.

“Then at 1pm, I received a call from my lawyer informing me that the matter has been postponed yet again.”

Shashi is now pleading with Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim and Chief Judge of Malaya Hasnah Hashim to intervene.

When contacted, Shashi’s lawyer S Ravichandran said generally courts would provide reasons for deferring a case, but here he was only informed that he would be notified of the decision at a later date.

“So it’s disappointing that no reason was given.”

Shashi is seeking to initiate private prosecution proceedings against Muslim convert preachers Firdaus Wong and Zamri Vinoth Kalimuthu. He claims that Zamri and Firdaus had insulted the non-Islamic faiths and beliefs.

Shashi said he was doing this because the police had classified the case as “No Further Action” and the Attorney-General’s Chambers was unwilling to proceed with the matter.

Last year, the Shah Alam High Court dismissed Shashi’s appeal to commence the private prosecution of the duo, with Judicial Commissioner Wendy Ooi saying there was no merit in the application brought against the public prosecutor.

On Sept 3, 2021, magistrate Redza Azhar Rezali disallowed the application saying the matter was still under investigation.

Redza had said the court would be interfering in the ongoing investigation if Shashi’s complaint were to be heard.

“It is the attorney-general who has the discretion whether to prosecute after an investigation,” he had said.