Cops high-handed, PAS complains to Suhakam
Christine ChanPublished: Aug 17, 2010 9:50 AM | Updated: Aug 17, 2010 9:58 AM
PAS has submitted a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) over the alleged high-handedness of the police in stopping a Pakatan Rakyat ceramah in Sungai Tongkang, Batu Pahat on Aug 1.
PAS has submitted a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) over the alleged high-handedness of the police in stopping a Pakatan Rakyat ceramah in Sungai Tongkang, Batu Pahat on Aug 1.
Johor PAS Yout
h chief Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil (right in photo), who handed the memorandum to commissioner Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah today, claimed that the police had trespassed into PAS premises, destroyed doors and chased away participants without reason.
“The police blocked roads in the vicinity of the ceramah and Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel were stationed there to scare away supporters. Police beat up teenagers who were just sitting nearby. The FRU also released tear gas when there was no violence,” he claimed.
The organisers were forced to stop the event barely five minutes after it began.
Said Khairil: “We demand that Suhakam investigates this. On what basis did the police trespass on private premises? And why did they chase away supporters and Pakatan leaders?”
Khairul also urged Suhakam to find out why Batu Pahat chief police officer Ibrahim Mohd Aris appears to have different signatures.
“His signature on the letter in which he rejected our application for the ceramah permit in Sungai Tongkang is different from that on another application, which was approved (for an event) in Batu Pahat. Was this signed by the same person or by other people?”
‘Why the arrests?’
In another development, PAS submitted a second memorandum against arrests made during the Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felcra) settlers’ assembly at Felcra Bandar Seberang Perak (Changkat Lada), Pasir Salak on July 31 and Aug 1.
Sixteen people were arrested, three of them for allegedly possessing weapons and obstructing police personnel.
Organiser and PAS central working committee member Mazlan Aliman (in batik shirt) said the assembly was to talk about the problems faced by the settlers and that it was held on private premises.
“We had obtained permission from the owner. We had also restricted the number of participants and the place had been used for ceramah before. So I don’t see why the police had to arrest the 16 and create a disturbance,” he told Muhammad Sha'ani.
"The police arrested people outside the premises who were wearing the PAS T-shirt or driving a car with the PAS sticker. They took the participants’ Mykad without saying whether they would face charges and without identifying themselves as enforcement personnel.”
He said that PAS’ application for a permit had been rejected.
“It is not fair that the police keep rejecting our applications and use violence to disperse every assembly that we hold,” he added.
“Aren’t we allowed to have any freedom to talk and assemble at all? Why don’t the police give us a place where we can assemble instead?”
Johor PAS Yout
h chief Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil (right in photo), who handed the memorandum to commissioner Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah today, claimed that the police had trespassed into PAS premises, destroyed doors and chased away participants without reason.“The police blocked roads in the vicinity of the ceramah and Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel were stationed there to scare away supporters. Police beat up teenagers who were just sitting nearby. The FRU also released tear gas when there was no violence,” he claimed.
The organisers were forced to stop the event barely five minutes after it began.
Said Khairil: “We demand that Suhakam investigates this. On what basis did the police trespass on private premises? And why did they chase away supporters and Pakatan leaders?”
Khairul also urged Suhakam to find out why Batu Pahat chief police officer Ibrahim Mohd Aris appears to have different signatures.
“His signature on the letter in which he rejected our application for the ceramah permit in Sungai Tongkang is different from that on another application, which was approved (for an event) in Batu Pahat. Was this signed by the same person or by other people?”
‘Why the arrests?’
In another development, PAS submitted a second memorandum against arrests made during the Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felcra) settlers’ assembly at Felcra Bandar Seberang Perak (Changkat Lada), Pasir Salak on July 31 and Aug 1.
Sixteen people were arrested, three of them for allegedly possessing weapons and obstructing police personnel.
Organiser and PAS central working committee member Mazlan Aliman (in batik shirt) said the assembly was to talk about the problems faced by the settlers and that it was held on private premises.“We had obtained permission from the owner. We had also restricted the number of participants and the place had been used for ceramah before. So I don’t see why the police had to arrest the 16 and create a disturbance,” he told Muhammad Sha'ani.
"The police arrested people outside the premises who were wearing the PAS T-shirt or driving a car with the PAS sticker. They took the participants’ Mykad without saying whether they would face charges and without identifying themselves as enforcement personnel.”
He said that PAS’ application for a permit had been rejected.
“It is not fair that the police keep rejecting our applications and use violence to disperse every assembly that we hold,” he added.
“Aren’t we allowed to have any freedom to talk and assemble at all? Why don’t the police give us a place where we can assemble instead?”
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