Protes duo released after statements taken
The two activists detained by police while at the launch of a campaign to protest the subsidy reduction for essential goods in
Kampung Kerinchi in Kuala Lumpur yesterday were released after their statements were taken.
The two activists detained by police while at the launch of a campaign to protest the subsidy reduction for essential goods in
Kampung Kerinchi in Kuala Lumpur yesterday were released after their statements were taken.
According to Bernama, Brickfields police chief ACP Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said Suaram Coordinator Tah Moon Hui (left), 29, and PKR Batu Youth chief Rozan Azen Mat Razip (below), 33, were arrested after allegedly refusing to cooperate with police.
They were asked to show their identification cards and were said to have prevented the police from carrying out their duties when asked about the car they were in at the launch of the campaign.
He said the duo and the car were brought to the Brickfields police station at 5.30pm and released at 10.30pm.
He added that the case was being investigated under Section 186 of the Penal Code (obstructing public servant in discharge of his public functions).
Protes - a loose coalition of opposition and activist groups - had vowed to launch a nationwide campaigns to protest the government's decision to raise the prices of petrol, diesel, sugar and liquefied petroleum gas due to subsidy cuts.
The movement's leaders have claimed that their campaign was important to ensure that the rakyat understood the subsidy cuts and to press the government to pay heed to the needs of the rakyat first.
Responding to the arrests, PKR's Batu parliamentarian Tian Chua expressed disappointment over the police' actions.
"Not just subsidies have been retracted but the people's freedom of speech has also been forbidden. Our democratic rights have been taken away," said the opposition politician.
