Anti-incinerator protest to proceed, with or without police greenlight
According to the Rawang Tolak Insinerator Network (RTI) pressure group, they are going to meet the police tomorrow in another attempt to get the authority's nod for their planned protest in Selayang this Tuesday, but will still continue with the rally regardless of the discussion's outcome...
An anti-incinerator group today vowed to continue their rally against Selangor state government's plan to build a waste-to-energy (WTE) plant in Rawang, even if they face arrests.
According to the Rawang Tolak Insinerator Network (RTI) pressure group, they are going to meet the police tomorrow in another attempt to get the authority's nod for their planned protest in Selayang this Tuesday, but will still continue with the rally regardless of the discussion's outcome.
"I cannot say that I am not afraid, but we have to continue," RTI spokesperson Abdul Hanan Abd Mokti told a press conference in Bandar Tasik Puteri this morning.
He said this when asked if they were ready to face the consequences for pushing through with the rally planned for 10am in front of the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) office, including the possibility of getting arrested.
This comes after the group today reiterated their stand to hold the demonstration, which they hope to gather at least 150 to 200 participants to object to an MPS decision which effectively makes way for a plan to build an incinerator in Batu Arang
The local council had recently approved a rezoning application to change the status of a land plot earmarked for the incinerator from residential to industrial.
‘We comply with PAA’
However, the group stressed that they have been following all due process in protesting the plan and will continue to abide by all laws, including the Peaceful Assembly Act.
The group said the police shouldn't have any reason to take action against them as they have followed all the requirements under PAA, including submitting a notice to the police in advance.
They claimed police do not have the right to prevent their protest as they have complied with the law.
Hanan also assured that their rally would be peaceful and not break any law.
"We will continue with the event. We will abide by all local laws, including not engaging in any violence or provocative actions, and (respect) traffic laws.
"Even if we are provoked by other parties, we will not respond," he added.
Local council notified
According to Hanan, the Bar Council's Human Rights Committee has also agreed to send a team to monitor the assembly and ensure that the rights of its participants are upheld and the event proceeds according to the law.
The group has also notified the MPS president of their plan to submit a protest memorandum to the agency during the rally, he added.
Last week, RTI announced its plan to hold a rally on Oct 1 in a bid to send a strong message to MPS.
However, the group said they were later informed by Gombak police not to proceed with the protest due to safety concerns, location suitability, traffic congestion, and public order.
In response to this, RTI on Friday condemned the police and urged them to respect the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
