Lawyers lament ‘misplaced priorities’ after being summoned by cops
Zaid Malek, Nabila Khairuddin and Mahajoth Singh at the Dang Wangi police district headquarters after giving statements today.
KUALA LUMPUR: Three members of a lawyers’ group have criticised police for summoning them for their part in a protest outside the Singapore High Commission on Saturday.
Lawyers for Liberty coordinator Zaid Malik, who was among the three called in by Dang Wangi district police yesterday, said police must know their priorities.
“We understand that the police have to carry out their duties, but they are misplacing their priorities,” he said.
Zaid, along with LFL volunteers Mahajoth Singh and Nabila Khairuddin, were protesting at the high commission over the impending execution of Malaysian Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam over a drug conviction in the city-state.
The three were investigated for alleged violations of Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act for not having permission to assemble, and Act 342 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act for breach of SOPs.
Zaid said that with Nagaenthran’s execution taking place tomorrow, there was no time to waste in prioritising the task at hand.
“The most important thing to do right now is to dedicate resources and efforts solely to securing Nagaenthran’s survival,” he said. “Stop wasting time with us, focus on the man.”
Nagaenthran, 34, who is mentally disabled, was arrested in 2009 for trafficking 42.72gm of heroin into Singapore and was handed the death sentence the following year.
Believed to have an IQ of 69 — a level recognised as a disability — Nagaenthran had failed in his clemency bid, and his case has sparked widespread criticism, both within Malaysia and internationally.
KUALA LUMPUR: Three members of a lawyers’ group have criticised police for summoning them for their part in a protest outside the Singapore High Commission on Saturday.
Lawyers for Liberty coordinator Zaid Malik, who was among the three called in by Dang Wangi district police yesterday, said police must know their priorities.
“We understand that the police have to carry out their duties, but they are misplacing their priorities,” he said.
Zaid, along with LFL volunteers Mahajoth Singh and Nabila Khairuddin, were protesting at the high commission over the impending execution of Malaysian Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam over a drug conviction in the city-state.
The three were investigated for alleged violations of Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act for not having permission to assemble, and Act 342 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act for breach of SOPs.
Zaid said that with Nagaenthran’s execution taking place tomorrow, there was no time to waste in prioritising the task at hand.
“The most important thing to do right now is to dedicate resources and efforts solely to securing Nagaenthran’s survival,” he said. “Stop wasting time with us, focus on the man.”
Nagaenthran, 34, who is mentally disabled, was arrested in 2009 for trafficking 42.72gm of heroin into Singapore and was handed the death sentence the following year.
Believed to have an IQ of 69 — a level recognised as a disability — Nagaenthran had failed in his clemency bid, and his case has sparked widespread criticism, both within Malaysia and internationally.
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