Police probe is to silence us, says activist Fadiah Nadwa
Activist Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, who is being probed by the police today over a public rally on Saturday night, claimed that the ongoing investigation is to silence the people fighting for democracy and the truth.
Speaking to media outside the Bukit Aman police headquarters, Fadiah said an investigation is a form of intimidation and harassment against her.
Activist Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, who is being probed by the police today over a public rally on Saturday night, claimed that the ongoing investigation is to silence the people fighting for democracy and the truth.
Speaking to media outside the Bukit Aman police headquarters, Fadiah (above) said an investigation is a form of intimidation and harassment against her.
"Today's investigation is nothing but an act of intimidation and harassment targeted at me to instil fear in the hearts and minds of dissenting Malaysians.
"It is clear that it is done to silence us.
"I think it's unnecessary to call me for sedition because Malaysians feel deeply about what's going on in this country, I am not the only person," she said.
Earlier, police recorded her statement over the rally and her social media post calling for the people to join the rally on Saturday night.
Asked if she is tired of demonstrating, Fadiah insisted on fighting.
"There's no such thing as exhaustion for someone who believes in the truth, freedom, and justice. Yes we are infuriated, but we will continue to fight," she added.
Fadiah also questioned why the police did not question some supremacist groups which attacked her on social media.
"If the police have been surveilling my social media account, they must have been aware of the fact that I have been getting a lot of attacks by the supremacist group.
"Attacks are clearly gendered and they have not done anything to address that," she said.
Fadiah was alleged to have uploaded a post online calling for people to attend the protest against the “betrayal” over the current political crises and collapse of the government.
Bukit Aman CID director Huzir Mohamed reportedly said that Fadiah is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
'When women defenders speak up, they are attacked'
Human rights activist Ivy Josiah, who was here with other activists to show support to Fadiah, said she is alarmed by cyber-attacks toward Fadiah on social media.
"Police can make their own reports and probe all those people trolling her.
"This happens a lot. When women defenders speak up, they are attacked. This is what I urge the police to do. Stop intimidating rights to assemble and demonstrate.
"I demand they investigate the people who threatened her and other women who are human rights defenders," Josiah said.
Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy said what happened to Fadiah is not an individual, but people's issue.
"Not only the new government robbed the people's votes, but it robbed 20 years of our struggle to bring a change," he said.
Bersih chairperson Thomas Fann said the recent change of government must not be accepted as normal as it is a disrespect to the democracy.
"We are here to say that we cannot accept what has happened to our democracy - the backdoor government that disrespects the mandate that people have given to rule for five years and to fulfil the manifesto.
"If we allow it, if we say nothing, we are condoning it. And this will become acceptable and normal. This is not normal. If it's normal, why bother to vote?"
Marina Mahathir (photo) echoed the same sentiment.
"I agree that people's rights have been robbed.
"In the constitution, we have the right to speak up in whatever way. So this is what we should defend.
"We should have the right to protest anytime and anywhere we can," she said.
Meanwhile, student activist Wong Yang Ke called on the people to continue to fight in a long journey for democracy.
"New backdoor government seems to do a cleansing of the progressive force. What they are trying to do (is to) create a chilling effect on society.
"I think a lot of people like us feel helpless, frustrated, and disappointed on the current political turmoil, but we shouldn't surrender because we had to fight for democracy for years.
"We shall stand united and win together. I would like to say, it's a long journey for us to fight for democracy," he said.
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