'Black flag' group cries police intimidation after protest convoys run into trouble
A series of black flag convoys, which reportedly involved 100 vehicles nationwide, met with police intimidation in several areas according to the protest organiser.
Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR) said the police disturbed convoys at Quayside Mall in Kuala Langat, Selangor; Manjung in Perak; Pulau Melaka, Bandar Hilir, Limbongan, and Batu Berendam in Malacca; at Cyberjaya, Selangor; and at Kuching, Sarawak.
SSR also said three individuals are believed to have been detained in...
A series of black flag convoys, which reportedly involved 100 vehicles nationwide, met with police intimidation in several areas according to the protest organiser.
Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR) said the police disturbed convoys at Quayside Mall in Kuala Langat, Selangor; Manjung in Perak; Pulau Melaka, Bandar Hilir, Limbongan, and Batu Berendam in Malacca; at Cyberjaya, Selangor; and at Kuching, Sarawak.
SSR also said three individuals are believed to have been detained in Temerloh, Pahang.
However, Temerloh police chief Mohd Azhar Mohd Yusoff denied anyone was detained over a black flag convoy in his district.
He also told Malaysiakini that he had no knowledge of there being any convoys in the area.
Malaysiakini is trying to determine if the trio was detained in other police districts.
In a statement, SSR said convoy participants adhered to Covid-19 SOPs by not "gathering" or exceeding vehicle capacity limits.
Malaysiakini was made to understand that the organiser advised convoy participants to abide by the 10km radius rule imposed by Covid-19 SOPs.
Nonetheless, SSR said some participants were prevented from participating in the convoy by police.
"We believe police have no solid reason to stop cars that wave black flags other than to oppress the people's freedom of speech and expression.
"It's not reasonable for police to prevent anyone from waving black flags from their cars (even if) they don't abide by the 10km-from-home travel radius.
"Such action is a threat, and we take it as instruction from minister(s) who are deaf and blind to the people's suffering but are hasty to silence the people's voices," they said.
The convoys were a prelude to SSR's #Lawan street protest planned for July 31.
Details for the time and place of the upcoming protest have yet to be revealed.
SSR has three demands - for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to resign, for a full Parliament session to be held that will not be just a "government ceramah" (lecture), and for automatic loan moratoriums to be extended to everyone.
Malaysiakini was made to understand the group does not consider the current moratorium a proper moratorium, as interest is accrued throughout the loan deferment period.
Later at night, SSR activists reported that almost 30 of those who took part in the convoys have been called up for questioning by police.
Among those called up were SSR activist Mohammad Abdullah Alshatri and Undi18 co-founder Tharma Pillai.
According to lawyer New Sin Yew, efforts are being made to coordinate legal representation for those who have been called up.
Report this comment
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.