Anguished kin supportive of detained activists

comments     Yap Jia Hee     Published     Updated

Following the arrest of 17 Kin say youth should speak up, not be silenced.and activists outside Parliament on Tuesday night, several of their supporters and family members have been keeping vigil outside the Jinjang police detention centre.

Most of the family members were unwilling to talk to the press. For those who did, they wanted the public to know their detained kin are good people.

The father of Universiti Sains Malaysia student Lee Chung Lun said he felt "hurt" that his son was detained, but stressed he supported his son's endeavour.

"All my life, I've never been in a cell. But my son, who has always shown good behaviour, has been remanded for three days.

"This government is not fair," said Lee senior in an angry tone, his eyes watering.

He said he was supportive of Chung Lun's activism and views on national issues - something he believed university students should be engaging in.

"I know what he is doing. We regularly have house meetings," said Lee senior, who said his main worry now is his son's health.

Youths told to speak up

He said he understood most university students wouldn’t be involved in activism like his son because of parental pressure.

"Parents always tell their children to study hard and stay away from trouble.

"But this activity (occupying Parliament) is good because it involves the future of the country," he said.

Meanwhile, Ng Keng Ming, the uncle of another detained student Ng Xing Yi, said he was not worried about his niece because he is sure she did nothing wrong.

But what worries Keng Ming is the fact that Xiang Yi's mother has broken down after the arrest.

"I have to try to calm her. But this is Xiang Yi's first arrest. Thus her mother is very worried," he said.

Keng Ming believed youths must be allowed to think for themselves and he supports any student who speaks up on current affairs.



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