This year’s Malaysia Day celebrations were held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and while festivities were underway, a protest was also happening on the other side of town.
Earlier on Sunday (16th September), a number of student groups organised a rally called “Pandang Ke Sabah” attended by roughly 100 people near the Gaya Street Sunday market, just five minutes away from Padang Merdeka where Malaysia Day celebrations were going to take place later that day.
Eight activists who attended the rally, including Sabah Parti Amanah Negera Youth chief Mohd Khairudin Daud, were arrested and allegedly manhandled by the authorities who were trying to disperse the crowd.
Source: Just Read Online
According to the New Straits Times, the protesters were highlighting 10 demands, among which included education, poverty, native lands, security, housing, public transportation, environment and employment in the state.
In light of this, deputy home minister Datuk Azis Jamman condemned the activists’ protest, calling it unnecessary and criticised Mohd Khairudin for taking part. He was quoted by the Malay Mail as saying,
“Why must they protest today? As part of a government-friendly party, he (Mohd Khairudin) should’ve known to use the proper channel to air his grievances. They are part of the system now.”
Source: The Star
“Write in to us and we will facilitate a roundtable discussion. That is the way to do it. They need to discard this opposition mentality of protesting and taking to the streets.”
Sabah commissioner of police Datuk Omar Mammah spoke to the Malay Mail as well, denying that there was any violence while police were trying to disperse the crowd. He said,
“I was not there but from what I was told, they were not dispersing despite being advised to repeatedly. They were marching with banners and under the law this is a protest, and they did not have a permit. My OCPD said that they were attracting a lot of attention. We had to stop it.”
“Malaysia Day or not, we have to follow the law. It is a requirement that they get a permit.”
Source: Sabah News Today
Meanwhile, Bersih Sabah 2.0 coordinator Asraf Sharafi urged the police to release the 8 protesters in a statement, adding that they were misusing the Peaceful Assembly Act to stop any form of gathering.
“The police move to arrest them is a step behind and shows the government is not serious about uplifting the people’s voices.”
What are your thoughts on this recent arrest? Let us know in the comments below!
Also read: Angry M’sians to Protest Against PH on 18 Aug For Not Fulfilling 100-Day Manifesto
