Rawang state assemblyperson Gan Pei Nei and three Pakatan Rakyat political aides have handed a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), over alleged manhandling by the police.

This was alleged to have happened last Friday during a protest at the Selangor MACC office in Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam, against the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock.

Today, the four provided details to Commissioner N Siva Subramaniam at the Suhakam headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Gan was accompanied by Loo Chuan Boon (an aide to Bukit Lanjan state assemblyperson Elizabeth Wong), Ng Yap Hwa (an aide to Klang MP Charles Santiago) and Sarah Vanitha Devaraj (another aide to Santiago).

Footage from four videos and still images lasting eight minutes were projected on a wide screen to back their claim. A copy of the footage, recorded by several people, was handed over.

memorandum to suhakam 210709 05 The memorandum said about 300 people had gathered demanding action from the MACC.

Police began dispersing the crowd after 40 minutes and a melee broke out.

Gan, who was the final speaker that day, said the melee broke out when a man tried to grab the loud-hailer from her.

"They were in plainclothes, no ID, no idea if they are the police," she said.

"The men dragged me, I am a woman. (While this was going on) the FRU were surrounding us. There was pushing and then I knocked my head on the ground."

Loo said "they could have easily been gangsters for all we know".

Five demands made

The memorandum contains five demands - an inquiry into the incident; respect for human rights; monitoring by Suhakam of future peaceful assemblies; mediation with the police when there is violation of the right to assemble; and the repeal of discriminatory laws.

students without birth certificates 170608 siva subramaniam Only Ng has lodged a police report on the incident.

Loo said that he was dragged 30 metres before he was handcuffed and that this left marks on his wrists.

"I told the police 'I am not guilty why are you handcuffing me?' The police replied that I was being taken for questioning," he said.

Loo added that the police removed the handcuffs only when Wong informed them that he was a member of her staff.

Siva said the matter will be discussed at the commission meeting on Aug 10.

"Suhakam has stressed many times that the fundamental right to hold peaceful assemblies should be guaranteed, and all laws that restrict freedom of expression and assembly should be repealed," he said.

"We will ask for more details from the authorities as we need to listen to their side of the story as well.

"I assure you that the fundamental rights of an individual to do something within the scope of the federal constitution will always be upheld."