DAP may sue cops over disruption of dinner

DAP may take legal action against the police following its high-handed action in sealing off the DAP dinner in Klang yesterday, its committee member Gobind Singh Deo said today.

Gobind, who is also Puchong MP, said the party will write to the police for an explanation before taking any action.

He said the party wants to know why the permit it was granted on June 17 was suddenly revoked. Police should have been more reasonable in making its decision.

“We can see no reason as to why a group of people attending a dinner, including children and the elderly, can suddenly become a security risk.

“This is totally irresponsible, an abuse of power and ridicules the spirit of our Constitution which guarantees us the right to assemble freely and we are prepared to test the matter in court for a ruling,” said Gobind in a statement.

Permit for dinner withdrawn at last minute

Yesterday, it was reported that police intervened during a dinner-cum-ceramah by DAP.

The event was organised by Klang MP Charles Santiago. However, police withdrew the permit for the event at the last minute, and started to seal off the area at 4.45pm.

After some intense negotiations, the dinner was allowed to proceed at about 8.15pm, but the speakers were unable to proceed with their ceramah as the PA system was confiscated by the police earlier.

Gobind said police had made yesterday's event as something memorable in a negative way as children watched in fear and horror as armed personnel together with their weapons, water cannons and trucks stood guard as if we were in a war zone.

“The DAP is concerned that this may become a sign of the times to come where other dinners are cancelled at the last moment too,” he said.

“Police should have realised that tickets for the dinner had been sold earlier and cancelling the event at the last minute was impossible, as people were bound to turn up expecting the event to proceed.

The Puchong MP said police had created the tense situation themselves by issuing a permit earlier, allowing people to buy tickets for the dinner and then chasing them away when they turn up for the event.