Come Aug 1, another massive street demo in KL
Abdul Rahim SabriPublished: Jul 4, 2009 9:50 AM | Updated: Jul 4, 2009 9:53 AM
A massive demonstration to demand the repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows for detention without trial, is being planned for Aug 1 in Kuala Lumpur.
A massive demonstration to demand the repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows for detention without trial, is being planned for Aug 1 in Kuala Lumpur.
The event is organised by the Abolish the ISA Movement, better known by their Malay acronym GMI, which is a coalition of NGOs, opposition parties and civil society.
GMI chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (far right in photo) said the demonstration will be held to press for the release of all ISA detainees and the closure of the Kamunting detention camp where they are being detained.
He urged the public to turn up in full force to voice their protest against ISA and urge the government to repeal the controversial security law, which is often used by the government as a weapon against political dissidents.
“In the early stages, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak freed a few detainees, but now he is arresting people again,” said Syed Ibrahim, during a GMI leafleting exercise at the Sogo shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur today.
He was referring to the last month’s arrest of three individuals for allegedly trying to revive the Jemaah Islamiah militant group.
'More than 100,000 protestors' expected
At the leafleting exercise today, Syed Ibrahim was accompanied by nine others including PAS Youth exco member Mohd Sani Hamzan and PAS Youth secretary Kamaruzaman Mohamad.
Twice as many uniformed police personnel stood watch close by.
Though a police personnel stopped the GMI delegation from using a loud-hailer from addressing the crowd, the leafleting exercise went on from 2.30pm to 3pm without any untoward incidents.
Meanwhile, Kamaruzaman told reporters that he espects a crowd of between 150,000 and 200,000 for the demonstration, while Mohd Sani urged young people to take part in the protest.
The last time a major demonstration was held in the streets of Kuala Lumpur was by the coalition against the teaching science and mathematics in English on March 7.
The event is organised by the Abolish the ISA Movement, better known by their Malay acronym GMI, which is a coalition of NGOs, opposition parties and civil society.
GMI chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (far right in photo) said the demonstration will be held to press for the release of all ISA detainees and the closure of the Kamunting detention camp where they are being detained.He urged the public to turn up in full force to voice their protest against ISA and urge the government to repeal the controversial security law, which is often used by the government as a weapon against political dissidents.
“In the early stages, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak freed a few detainees, but now he is arresting people again,” said Syed Ibrahim, during a GMI leafleting exercise at the Sogo shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur today.
He was referring to the last month’s arrest of three individuals for allegedly trying to revive the Jemaah Islamiah militant group.
'More than 100,000 protestors' expected
At the leafleting exercise today, Syed Ibrahim was accompanied by nine others including PAS Youth exco member Mohd Sani Hamzan and PAS Youth secretary Kamaruzaman Mohamad.
Twice as many uniformed police personnel stood watch close by. Though a police personnel stopped the GMI delegation from using a loud-hailer from addressing the crowd, the leafleting exercise went on from 2.30pm to 3pm without any untoward incidents.
Meanwhile, Kamaruzaman told reporters that he espects a crowd of between 150,000 and 200,000 for the demonstration, while Mohd Sani urged young people to take part in the protest.
The last time a major demonstration was held in the streets of Kuala Lumpur was by the coalition against the teaching science and mathematics in English on March 7.
View Comments0