Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) strongly condemns the arrest of the socialist party PSM’s deputy chairperson, S Arutchelvan, under Sections 353 and 427 of the Penal Code.
This arrest amounts to a clear abuse of police powers and process and reflects a longstanding pattern of intimidation against activists for exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
Arutchelvan had already fully cooperated with the police, having presented himself at Dang Wangi Police headquarters last Thursday (14 August) for questioning. The arrest was thus wholly disproportionate, as there are no justifiable grounds to believe that he would not comply with any further police summons.
Moreover, there is no basis to continue the investigation, when publicly available footage of the 13 August assembly shows no use of criminal force, and when the police themselves imposed unnecessary restrictions that obstructed protesters from submitting the proposed estate workers housing scheme law directly to MPs outside the gates of Parliament.
Arutchelvan’s arrest marks at least the third case this year in which activists have been arrested for exercising the constitutional right to peacefully assemble. This follows the arrests of former Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy in February under the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act, as well as of Fadhil Kasim, Aliff Danial and Sabir Syarifuddin in June under the Sedition Act.
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These incidents form part of an alarming trend where outdated and draconian laws are repeatedly weaponised to silence dissent, stifle legitimate advocacy, and instil fear among those who speak truth to power.
It is deeply concerning that the “Madani” (civil and trustworthy) government continues to repeat the very repressive practices of past administrations, despite its promises of reform and commitment to democratic values.
Suaram calls for the immediate and unconditional release of S Arutchelvan, and reiterates that investigations under Sections 353 and 427 of the Penal Code must be dropped without delay.
We further urge the government and the police to respect the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, and to immediately end the cycle of arbitrary arrests and investigations against activists. – Suaram
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
