KUALA LUMPUR: Four activists were called in today by the police for questioning over the Workers Day rally organised by Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) on April 23.
The four are PSM deputy chief S Arutchelvan, organiser Kohila Yanasekaran, Subang PSM’s T Mohan Ellen, and Suaram coordinator Wong Yan Ke.
According to Arutchelvan, the police questioned him today for around two hours to get more information about the rally.
“This is a waste of time because we complied with all protocols and notice was given to the police within the prescribed time,” Arutchelvan told reporters outside the Dang Wangi district police headquarters (IPD).
He said that the organisers had also met with IPD chief Noor Dellhan Yahaya on April 21, adding that at no point did the police prohibit the rally from taking place.
Arutchelvan claimed that the police themselves lodged a report over the event to open investigations into the rally.
“We hope the police will cease this practice as it contravenes Article 10’s freedom to assemble without arms under the Federal Constitution,” he said.
The four are currently being investigated under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and Regulation 7 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease (Measures Within Infected Local Areas) (National Recovery Plan) Regulations 2021.
They were accompanied by lawyer M Nalini.
Previously, Arutchelvan told FMT the gathering was held peacefully, with about 150 people in attendance, including monitors from Suhakam, the human rights commission.
The group had marched from Central Market at 5pm towards the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, where they broke fast for Ramadan.
Source: FreeMalaysiaToday.com