Two Kampung Hakka activists arrested
Published: Jan 3, 2014 4:17 PM | Updated: Jan 3, 2014 4:29 PM
Two Kampung Hakka activists were arrested in Mantin, Negeri Sembilan, today in relation to a protest held there on Nov 7 against developer Mega 9 Development Sdn Bhd.
They are Kampung Hakka village chief Chong Tze Yaw and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activist Vijaya Gandi.
They are detained in relation to Nov 7 protest held against Mega 9 Development.
Two Kampung Hakka activists were arrested in Mantin, Negeri Sembilan, today in relation to a protest held there on Nov 7 against developer Mega 9 Development Sdn Bhd.
They are Kampung Hakka village chief and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activist Vijaya Gandi.
PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan, who was present during their arrest, said the activists went to the local police station voluntarily, after being called to make statements on the protest.
However, they were arrested under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation before any statement was recorded from them.
This, Arutchelvan said, was on the basis of a police report lodged by the developer on the protest.
“This Nov 7 demonstration took place in front of the police who were all there. If there was anything unlawful, they would have arrested the people then, but nothing of that sort took place.
“Apparently the developer lodged a recent police report on Dec 30 (last year), so we are wondering why the police are responding to a report made more than one-and-half months after the protest,” Arutchelvan said.
He said Gandi was being kept at the Broga police station and Chong at the Lenggeng police station lock-up. However, the police have given no indication whether they would be remanded or charged with any offence.
The Nov 7 protest was held in front of the developer’s sales office to urge the developer to halt its demolition of Kampung Hakka.
Part of the village is being cleared and demolished for a mixed development project.
The villagers have also taken exception to Mega 9 chairperson Ng Kek Kiong’s statement that ‘professional squatters’ were hired to draw media attention to the houses slated for demolition, and they have called the claim insulting to the residents.
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They are Kampung Hakka village chief and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activist Vijaya Gandi.
PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan, who was present during their arrest, said the activists went to the local police station voluntarily, after being called to make statements on the protest.
However, they were arrested under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation before any statement was recorded from them.This, Arutchelvan said, was on the basis of a police report lodged by the developer on the protest.
“This Nov 7 demonstration took place in front of the police who were all there. If there was anything unlawful, they would have arrested the people then, but nothing of that sort took place.
“Apparently the developer lodged a recent police report on Dec 30 (last year), so we are wondering why the police are responding to a report made more than one-and-half months after the protest,” Arutchelvan said.
He said Gandi was being kept at the Broga police station and Chong at the Lenggeng police station lock-up. However, the police have given no indication whether they would be remanded or charged with any offence.
The Nov 7 protest was held in front of the developer’s sales office to urge the developer to halt its demolition of Kampung Hakka.
Part of the village is being cleared and demolished for a mixed development project.
The villagers have also taken exception to Mega 9 chairperson Ng Kek Kiong’s statement that ‘professional squatters’ were hired to draw media attention to the houses slated for demolition, and they have called the claim insulting to the residents.
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