Kita Lawan rally organisers have urged the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to conduct an inquiry into the conduct of the police force.

 

They proposed this in a memorandum today condemning the abuse of power by the authorities towards participants and organisers of the rally.

 

“We want Suhakam to conduct an official inquiry into the conduct of the police force. We want confirmation that there exists police misconduct,” Kita Lawan secretariat and organiser Syukri Razab said today.

 

The memorandum was accepted by acting chairperson Khaw Lake Tee at the Suhakam headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

 

Ten people have been arrested so far, including PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, whose arrest made international headlines, and Selangor state executive councillor Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad ( left ).

 

Syukri explained that the arrest of dissenting voices is an attempt to create a “culture of fear” among ordinary folks.

 

He added that the authorities have disregarded the ruling of the Court of Appeal on rallies, which stated that it was wrong to declare an assembly that was already lawful as “illegal”.

 

Syukri said on top of that, it is also unconstitutional to impose a restriction on the right to assemble and form association.

 

“However, the police have completely disregarded that Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 has been deemed unconstitutional by the court,” he said.

 

Police acting ‘in contempt of court’

 

The Suaram activist pointed out that police actions – aimed at crippling the activist movement – is in contempt of court.

 

Hopefully, he added, with Suhakam's inquiry, the police will think twice before breaking the law.

 

Chipping in, Teja assemblyman Chang Lih Kang said that the police are merely “fishing” when they started arresting and remanding people for activities not related to the rallies.

 

“It is clear that the police are simply abusing their power by selectively arresting dissenting voices and questioning them for things other than what they were called in for,” said the PKR representative from Perak, one of the the organisers for Kita Lawan.

 

Khaw ( middle in photo ), after listening to all complaints from the organisers, said that the decision to conduct hearings can only come about after a discussion among the commissioners.

 

“We are taking this very seriously. By the process of Suhakam, we will have to study the complaints and allegations, and then only can a decision (to hold an inquiry) be made.

 

“This (request for an) inquiry requires further studying. However, a decision will be made within the month, at the latest,” she said.