16 arrested at event to expose Felcra wrongdoings

Sixteen civilians were arrested during a Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felcra) settlers assembly at Felcra Bandar Seberang Perak (Changkat Lada), Pasir Salak, yesterday.

According to PAS central working committee member Mazlan Aliman (left), who is president of the NGO National Children of Felda Settlers' Association (Anak) that organised the event, three out of the 16 are still in detention and awaiting remand.

“We do not know why they were arrested in the first place and why they are being held. But our lawyers are there to assist now,” Mazlan told reporters at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He claimed that the 16 were arrested when they were trying to enter the premises of the assembly where Felcra settlers had gathered to voice their problems at the event.

The two-day assembly took place on July 31 and ended yesterday.

“Police started setting roadblocks in the vicinity and all roads leading to the assembly since Saturday morning,” he said.

He added that the arrests were made at about 3pm yesterday.

‘Why arrest civilians?’

“We do not understand why the police are arresting civilians when the assembly was held on  privately owned land.

“It seems like the police are protecting those in power and not wanting to heed the complaints of the settlers,” he said.

He added that they will submit their complaints of Felcra’s mismanagement to Suhakam after celebrating Hari Raya.

“I am very disappointed that our freedom of speech has been violated,” he added.

Earlier, the NGO had vowed to expose incidents of embezzlement involving cowherding and fish farming activities, as well as land owned by Felcra in Boston, USA, worth about RM5 million, during the assembly

Felcra’s administration had also pressured the organisers to call off the assembly, and settlers were urged not to attend.

The arrests add to the growing list of detentions over the last weekend - with seven people at a Pakatan ceramah in Rengit in Batu Pahat, Johor detained on Saturday, and a total of 40 arrested at the anti-ISA vigil last night in Petaling Jaya (left), Selangor, and Penang - and has prompted a PR senator's speculation that another round of Ops Lalang may be in the making.