Police today questioned Bersih steering committee member Ivy Josiah and former All Women’s Action Society (Awam) president Ho Yock Lin in connection with a women-led “Walk for Maria” held almost nine months ago.

The walk had taken place on Nov 23 last year, and was organised to demand the release of Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah from solitary confinement under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

Ho, who was represented by lawyers Firdaus Husni and Vivian Kuan, said she and Josiah were first contacted by police by phone on Aug 3.

Josiah, meanwhile, was accompanied by her lawyers Honey Tan and Matt Wong.

They were questioned separately for more than two hours at the Dang Wangi district police station this afternoon.

“We are a little confused and annoyed as to why they are calling us after nine months. It is harassment, time-consuming and unnecessary,” said Josiah after emerging from the station.

Ho believed “the country’s money could be better used in other areas”, but thanked the police for acting professionally with her.

They were not specifically told what section of the law they were being investigated under, but Tan said it was clear from the line of questioning that the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 was used.

“When we asked why the investigations nine months after the walk, the usual answer came as ‘saya yang mengikut perintah’ (I who am following orders),” added the lawyer.

'I'm angry. It is very unjust'

Maria, who was present to show her support, said she was enraged that organisers of a “peaceful walk” had been hauled up for questioning.

“I am very angry, and I think it is very unjust.

“Since we started our Bersih convoy, we have had 119 cases of police calling people up for investigations, these (Ho and Josiah’s) are additional cases. We don’t know how many more they are going to go after.

“They have called them nine months after (the walk). Will they continue to call people even after two years? How many more people do you want to call?” she asked.

Aside Maria, family members of the duo as well as more than 30 people including former Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreevenasan, social activist Marina Mahathir and representatives from the Awam, Suaram, Engage and the Bar Council had shown up at the police station, with many holding up posters saying “Solidarity for Ivy Josiah and Ho Yock Lin”.

Many were dressed in purple as a sign of “women power”, said Ho.

Last November, hundreds of women marched from Padang Merbok to the Parliament building demanding for Maria’s release. Ambiga later handed over a memorandum to ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department urging they free Maria, return Bersih’s seized assets and abolish Sosma.

Many walks and vigils involving thousands of people were held throughout Maria’s 10-day detention under Sosma.

First arrested one day before the Bersih 5 rally along with 12 other people, she was the last to be released on Nov 28.