On June 21, protesters burned a cartoon caricature of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the Gempur Rasuah 2.0 rally in Sabah.
Suara Mahasiswa Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) president Fadhil Kasim later took to his X account to openly admit to burning the banner and explained that he was following Anwar’s own example, referring to the time when Anwar (as a student activist) burned a book written by Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Participants are being investigated for several offences
Following the incident, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the student activists involved in the rally are being investigated for several offences related to the peaceful assembly, according to BERNAMA.
These include incitement, open burning in a public area, possession of dangerous or corrosive substances during the protest, and raising sensitive issues involving royalty, religion, and race (3R).
The investigation is being carried out not only under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, but also under the Sedition Act 1948, and the Penal Code.
Datuk Jauteh Dikun
“Some incidents during the rally shouldn’t have happened”
Jauteh added that, so far, police have received six reports related to the incident and have opened three investigation papers covering a total of nine offences.
“There were things that happened during the rally that shouldn’t have taken place. No arrests have been made yet, but starting today, several individuals involved will be called in to give their statements,” he said.
He also urged future rally organisers to follow the proper procedures and conditions, or to express their views through official channels, such as direct meetings with the relevant authorities.
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