The way the police hound and harass activists engaged in social issues gives the impression that these activists are more dangerous than criminals who cause hell for peace-loving citizens.
The number of police engaged in this activity makes one wonder why the police are running after these activists instead of the criminals who are lurking among our midst committing all kinds of crimes, some even resulting in death.
More and more Malaysians are beginning to believe that the police are no longer what they used to be in the past when they were professional in their duty and were not seen as political tools of the ruling party.
The change in perception occurred during the Mahathir years as witnessed during the Refomasi days and while Anwar’s first sodomy trial dragged on when the police were harsh and brutal in dealing with the crowd who stood up against a cruel regime.
We have seen how heavy-handed the police were during the Bersih 1.0 and Hindraf rallies in November 2007. They continue to behave in that same fashion right up to today.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara, CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a pledge or schedule an auto donation to Aliran every month or every quarter
- Become an Aliran member
Yesterday, 25 June 2011, 31 PSM activists, including Sungai Siput MP Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, were detained at the Sungai Dua toll plaza at about 3.45pm. They were on their way to Penang after leafleting in Kedah when they were apprehended.
These activists were then taken to Kepala Batas Police Station in Seberang Perai Utara for questioning. Top-ranking Penang state police officers were later seen at the police station.
According to Jeyakumar, they were expecting to be released on police bail, but all of them were then detained in lock-ups. The women were detained at the Kepala Batas Police Station, while the men were taken to lock-ups at the Butterworth Police Station.
About the same time as the activists were detained at the Sungai Dua toll plaza in the north, PSM activists who had been leafleting in Johor were detained in Tangkak and taken to the Ledang Police Station. They were subjected to the same harrowing experience, but they were released at 4.00am today – after 12 hours with the police.
One is tempted to ask, is this the reason why we have a police force – to deny the fundamental rights of citizens, making the constitutional provisions granting them these rights meaningless?
This is a sheer waste of time for everybody concerned in this episode. The police should not be tied down in a case where there was clearly no threat to the nation. The activists should not be wasting their precious time doing nothing when they have their work to carry out which has been unfairly disrupted.
Four lawyers who turned up at the Kepala Batas Police Station last night were blocked from meeting the detainees. This is completely unwarranted; it is a basic right of detainees to have access to their lawyers. There is no justification for this refusal; it goes against natural justice.
The activists have now been remanded for seven days, the application granted at the Butterworth Magistrates Court this evening.
All these activists were engaged in legitimate, democratic activity which is guaranteed by the Federal Constitution. Leafleting is not criminal; educating the public on issues is not an offence. These activists are not engaged in violent or armed struggle.
The police have been going after activists similarly engaged in Johor and Shah Alam. And anyone wearing a T-shirt with the word “Bersih (Clean)” is hauled away. What have we come to? Why are the police targeting this group of people?
It is tied to the BN’s fear of Bersih 2.0’s ‘Walk for Democracy’ rally on 9 July.
This rally promises to draw unprecedented huge crowds. The sheer number of participants will debunk the BN’s claim that Malay support has swung back to Umno. It would be such a humiliation for Umno, which is pretending to be brave and masquerading as the champion of the Malays.
9 July will be the defining moment in Malaysian politics. Umno is not prepared to face this truth.
So the BN is using the police to stop the Bersh 2.0 rally on 9 July. It has to be stopped at all costs for the survival of the BN.
We will know on 9 July whether Malaysians have been cowed by fear; whether they will choose to snivel and quiver or will cast aside their shackles once and for all.
Will 9 July be an epoch-making day? Only time will tell.
P Ramakrishnan
President
26 June 2011
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
Ya! Sesetengah Aktivis memang lebih bahaya dari penjenayah… Kerana sesetengah aktivis boleh menimbulkan semangat atau rasa perjuangan yang MELAMPAU terhadap penyokongnya yang boleh menibulkan keadaan tidak terkawal dan sekaligus boleh melahirkan lebih dari seorang penjenyah.
Aktivis boleh memilih pelbagai cara untuk menyampaikan usul dan cadangan atau bantahan. Aktivis politik bukan sahaja harus mempunyai suara yang kuat untuk menjerit tetapi beliau harus ada 1000 mata dan 1000 tangan bagi mengawal tingkah laku penyokongnya.
Our police force has totally failed to do the duty that we, the rakyat, are paying them to do. They have turned against us and are now reporting to UMNO. Instead of protecting the rakyat, we are left to protect ourselves and our property by hiring security service companies to turn our housing estates into virtual prisons. The failure of the police is costing up thousands of ringgit and we must not tolerate it anymore. They must stop taking our money if they don’t want to do their duty. If they want to serve UMNO then they must take their pay from UMNO….
(Some segments of) the … police are really the lackeys of Umno in disgust and an unannounced political wing of Umno….
Malaysia became a police state for decades now so don’t try to tell them what to do. They wouldn’t understand what to do to begin with ! Just vote the deceitful and corrupted Umno out in the next GE and then replace the IGP plus all the lackeys of UMNO and surely then Malaysia will be a better place to live.
Yes, yes, yes sea of yellow
from the ground to the sky!