Seven students and a Suaram activist having been getting their statements recorded at Dang Wangi police district headquarters this afternoon on a rally held during Malaysia Day calling for clean campus elections.

NONE Among them are Suaram coordinator and former student activist Ahmad Syukri Ab Razam, Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) chairperson Mohd Safwan Anang, and Pro-Mahasiswa Nasional (PMN) chairperson Edikoup Sediyanto.

Most of them entered the police headquarters at around 2.35pm, accompanied by lawyer Farhana Abdul Halim.

Other student activists giving their statements are Ekhsan Bukharee Baderul Hisham, Akram Ikrami Taib Azamuddin, Haziq Abdul Aziz, Mohd Syahid Mohd Zaini and Rohayu Rosli.

About 800 students took part in the Sept 16 rally in Kuala Lumpur, demanding a transparent electoral system, financial allocation for candidates, and a fixed polling date.

Speaking reporters before giving his statement, Safwan questioned why they needed to give a statement as the rally was peaceful and was not a public nuisance.

“On Sept 16, it is proven to be peaceful and the police escorted us in a controlled situation. No problems.

“We also followed Article 10 (of the federal constitution) on the right to assembly,” he said.

Safwan also said he had been made to understand that he is being investigated under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which came into force in April.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Syukri reiterated UN special rapporteur Maina Kiai’s call for the government to promote the conduct of peaceful assemblies.

“(The rally) did not cause traffic congestion and went smoothly. What other kind of assembly does the police want?” he said.