Suhakam says #Lawan protest peaceful, no untoward incidents
The #Lawan protest in Kuala Lumpur yesterday had gone on peacefully and without any untoward incidents, according to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), citing findings from its team of seven observers.
Suhakam estimated participation of around 1,000 people, while police had capped the figure at 400.
Organisers, meanwhile...
The #Lawan protest in Kuala Lumpur yesterday had gone on peacefully and without any untoward incidents, according to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), citing findings from its team of seven observers.
Suhakam estimated participation of around 1,000 people, while police had capped the figure at 400.
Organisers, meanwhile, claimed some 2,000 people had participated in the protest along a 3km stretch from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) junction towards Masjid Jamek LRT, where supporters started to gather about 10.30am yesterday.
“Suhakam commends the organiser and participants in their effort to comply with the set pandemic standard operating procedures.
“We believe these measures can be improved in future,” said Suhakam.
Suhakam said its observers team also found that authorities were seen to facilitate the protest through negotiations with the organisers, despite insisting that no gathering could be held at Dataran Merdeka.
Protest organiser Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat yesterday expressed regret that they were prevented from gathering in the square as originally planned, arguing it was a much larger space to facilitate a safe social distance.
The three main demands from the protest were calling for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation, for Parliament to continue sitting, and for an automatic loan moratorium for all Malaysians.
In reiterating that peaceful assembly is an enshrined right under the Federal Constitution, Suhakam urged authorities to drop all investigations and charges against individuals who had exercised their rights.
“Instead, Suhakam proposes for authorities to stress on developing and strengthening procedures that would facilitate organisation of public assemblies while reducing risk of Covid-19 infections,” it said.
Earlier today, Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani confirmed that police have identified 29 individuals as part of their investigations into the #Lawan rally.
He said individuals who took part will be investigated under Act 342 and Regulation 17 (1) of the Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Regulations (Measures in Local Areas of Infection (National Rehabilitation Plan) 2021 and other relevant acts.
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