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Saturday, January 06, 2024

US embassy ‘blockade’ probe a ‘waste of time’, says activist


FMT:

US embassy ‘blockade’ probe a ‘waste of time’, says activist


Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek says participants were merely exercising their rights under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.



Suara Rakyat Malaysia executive director Sevan Doraisamy says he hopes the government will not open any new investigations into the blockade.


KUALA LUMPUR: Several activists have hit out at the authorities over their probe related to a six-day “blockade” outside the US embassy, with one describing it as a “waste of time”.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia executive director Sevan Doraisamy, who was among 15 people called in to give their statements over the blockade, questioned the need for an investigation.

“The police themselves have footage of what happened, no crimes or incidents occurred,” he told reporters after giving his statement.

“We have a new inspector-general of police and prime minister, so why are we using old SOPs when public assemblies take place?”

He added that every Malaysian had the right to assemble peacefully.

“We must keep demanding for the conflict in Gaza to stop. We hope the government will not open any new investigations regarding this matter,” he said.

The gathering, which was held to protest the US’s refusal to call for an end to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, was attended by NGOs and political figures over six days from Dec 26.

The police previously said that the event was organised without a permit.

Meanwhile, Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek said the police’s decision to call in participants was a form of intimidation.

“Those who participated in or organised the assembly were only exercising their rights under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.”

Article 10 of the Federal Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to freedom of speech, assembly and association.

Zaid also said there were attempts by police officers to stop lawyers from accompanying their clients while they were giving their statements.

“This is unbecoming conduct of the police officers and the police as a whole,” he said.


Others who were called in to give their statements to the police included Muda secretary-general Amir Hadi and his PSM counterpart A Sivarajan, Amanah Youth chief Hasbie Muda, MCA Youth deputy chief Mike Chong, and Batu PKR Youth chief Muhammad Sabda Suluh Lestari Yahya.

Activists Hishamuddin Rais, Ambiga Sreenevasan, and Tian Chua were also called in.

1 comment:

  1. Any similar "blockade" for any other cause anywhere else in Malaysia would have been severely dealt with by the Police.

    As it is the PDRM failed to uphold the Rule of Law in Malaysia , just because this was in support of Hamas.

    ReplyDelete