Scuffles as police close in on hundreds at vigil
Scuffles broke out between hundreds of anti-riot police and vigil-goers outside the Kelana Jaya police station on Monday night, as 26 detained anti-goods and services tax activists were transferred out to the Shah Alam police headquarters.
Scuffles broke out between hundreds of anti-riot police and vigil-goers outside the Kelana Jaya police station on Monday night, as 26 detained anti-goods and services tax activists were transferred out to the Shah Alam police headquarters.
More than 50 Light Strike Force personnel pushed the 200 strong crowd back to make room for two police trucks transporting the detainees, prompting some demonstrators to push back.
No one was seriously injured, but Kelana Jaya PKR Youth chief Saifullah Zulkifli was allegedly kicked in the ribs.
Three were arrested during an earlier scuffle outside the Kelana Jaya police station, when police closed in on the crowd, causing shouting and knocking down a motorcycle.
Among the three arrested was DAP activist Young Syefura Othman’s brother Ahmad Haikal. All three are believed to be university students.
The crowd had gathered outside the police station in solidarity with 79 people, detained at about 6pm for holding a sit-in at the Federal Territories Customs headquarters.
About 50 of them were released one by one starting at 9 pm, but the remainder were brought to the Shah Alam police headquarters.
Those still detained include PAS' Kuala Krai MP Dr Hatta Ramli, PSM's Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, PAS Youth information chief Mohd Nasaie Ismail, PSM secretary-general S Arutchlevan and activist Anne Ooi, better known as Auntie Bersih .
Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim blamed the tensions on the police, whom he claimed did not update those waiting outside on the detainees' situation. He also claimed that police hit him.
"If the police gave us updated information, we could control the crowd. The police were provoking the crowd, they were pushing them," he told reporters at the scene.
PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil also claimed that the detainees were denied access to legal representation because police did not allow the lawyers into the police station.
The crowd dispersed at about 12.15 am, with some headed to the Shah Alam police headquarters to hold a vigil there.
They plan to do further demonstrations later Tuesday, to show support for those still detained.
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