Eight student activists were arrested during a Malaysia Day protest rally in Kota Kinabalu at around 10am this morning. 

Suaram coordinator Amir Abdul Hadi said he was informed that police had moved in to arrest the protesters gathered in front of the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) for the Pandang Ke Sabah (Look Towards Sabah) rally.

The protesters' list of 10 demands includes the resolution of the long-standing statelessness issue in Sabah, the security of its borders, as well as the overall issue of poverty. 

Student activist Asrin Utong, who was among the eight arrested, told Malaysiakini that they were taken to the Karamunsing police station to have their statements recorded for alleged violations of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012. 

“We might also be investigated for alleged attempts to prevent a public officer from carrying out his duties,” he said when contacted. 

Read more: Amanah, Warisan split on Sabah Malaysia Day protest

According to Asrin, protesters began to gather outside the DBKK building from about 8.30am as they waited to march to the nearby Sunday market on Jalan Gaya. 

He alleged, however, that DBKK officers then “provoked” the crowd by pushing them in an attempt to disperse the rally. 

In a live video shared by another of those arrested, NGO Borneo Komrad founder Mukmin Nantang, protesters can be seen in a brief scuffle with DBKK and police officers after refusing to obey an order to end the rally. 

After they were placed in the police truck, a third arrested protester was heard claiming that he was “beaten” (dipukul) by a police officer. 

Asrin identified the protestor as Sabir Syarifuddin, a creative arts student from Universiti Malaysia Sabah. 

“His (Sabir)’s shirt was torn, he was punched and kicked,” he claimed, adding that several others also sustained minor injuries during the incident. 

The five others arrested, Asrin said, are activists Mohd Rosyaidi Abdul Latiff, Razdey Ruslin, Syed Syaqir Adhli Syed Redzuan, Zulfian Ansar and Khairuddin Daud. 

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