Three had been absent as they had been stated to be outstation, those that attended the police questioning at the moment instructed reporters outdoors the Wangsa Maju district police station this afternoon.
Suara Rakyat Malaysia government director Sevan Doraisamy, who was one of the individuals referred to as in to file his assertion, described the method as “a waste of time”.
Suaram government director Sevan Doraisamy speaks to the media outdoors IPD Wangsa Maju January 5, 2024. — Picture by Choo Choy May
“This investigation is an absolute waste of time, when the six-day meeting was carried out in a peaceful method while the police had been current to guarantee public security.
“On this observe, investigating 15 organisers and audio system unnecessarily consumes restricted police sources, when these officers and time spent might have been directed in the direction of precise crime circumstances,” he instructed reporters.
He additionally described the investigations as an intimidation tactic.
“It additionally disincentives them from legitimately exercising their right to categorical themselves collectively and on a wider degree, political participation,” Sevan stated, of the rally organisers.
“As lengthy as non-violence is upheld, the right to peacefully assemble is inalienable, regardless of whether or not discover has been given or not,” he added.
He stated the police ought to have facilitated their meeting as laid down in the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012, as an alternative of saying it was illegal.
Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek, who was additionally referred to as for police questioning, agreed with Sevan and stated Malaysians have a right to maintain a peaceful meeting beneath the Federal Constitution.
Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek was additionally referred to as for police questioning. — Picture by Choo Choy May
“Those who’re right here at the moment had been solely exercising their right beneath Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, the right to maintain peaceful meeting.
“So we should ask the federal government to not repeatedly name individuals to go and provides the assertion to the police, to have investigation papers being opened in opposition to those that are merely exercising their right beneath the structure,” he stated.
“They will not be criminals, however why are they treating them like criminals?” he requested.
Zaid referred to as upon the federal government to halt all investigations beneath the PAA 2012.
He stated the investigation beneath Section 9(5) of the PAA shouldn’t be going down.
He claimed the courts have made a earlier ruling that such actions by legislation enforcers are “unconstitutional”.
Section 9 of the Peaceful Assembly Act states that an organiser should notify the Officer in Charge of the Police District in which the meeting is to be held 10 days forward.
Apart from Sevan and Zaid, the 12 who turned up at the moment included former Batu MP Chua Tian Chang who’s now spokesman for the Sekretariat Solidarity Palestin, Malaysian United Democratic Alliance secretary-general Amir Hariri Abd Hadi, Deputy MCA Youth chief Mike Chong Yew Chuan, and former Malaysian Bar president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan.
“The investigations went properly. All of us adopted procedures. We are willingly cooperating with the police. We are assured that what’s being achieved in this ‘Kepung Demi Palestin, is inside our rights assured in the structure and likewise the Peaceful Assembly Act,” he stated.
However, Zaid claimed that some legal professionals weren’t allowed to accompany their shoppers in the course of the investigation.
“I feel some of the police are attempting to cease the legal professionals from exercising their perform and never permitting the legal professionals to firm shoppers in the course of the assertion taking and I feel that’s unbecoming conduct of the cops in addition to PDRM as a complete. The legal professionals are exercising their authorized perform and so they should be allowed,” he stated.
Last Monday, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Allaudeen Abdul Majid stated police are nonetheless in the method of acquiring statements from the organisers of the Kepung Demi Palestin rally to help in the investigation beneath the PAA 2012.
