updated version

Police this evening moved in to stop a meeting organised by a Chinese education lobby group at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur on the grounds that the organisers had no permit.

The meeting, organised by the United Chinese Schools Committees' Association, was to discuss matters pertaining to national Chinese primary schools and Vision schools.

About 300 participants who arrived for the meeting at 7.30pm only to find that they were barred from entering the hall by 17 police personnel led by Dang Wangi police chief Mohd Bakri Zinin.

The association's deputy chairman Dr Yap Sin Tian said that the police action was 'inappropriate and uncalled for'.

"We have had similar indoor meetings previously in this same premise without applying for a permit. Why are asked for a permit only now? This is not a political gathering," said Yap.

He said the meeting was to brief participants on the impact of the new Vision school in Subang Jaya, Selangor will have on the community. Participants were also to be briefed on the status of the construction of a new building for the Chee Wen Chinese school, also in Subang Jaya.

"When the participants started arriving, they were surprised that police denied them entry into the hall ... we are a democratic country but we are not allowed to have the briefing," said Yap ( centre ).

He said that the meeting has been postponed until the association obtained a permit within the next few days. Yap also said he will be lodging a complaint with the police on their interference today.

Police Act

Mohd Bakri said police will decide on the issuing of a permit after receiving the application. To a question on whether a permit is needed for an indoor gathering, he said, "Go read the Police Act".

According to section 27A of the Police Act, any police officer can order individuals involved in an indoor gathering to disperse if the activity is deemed to be prejudicial to national security or to incite public disturbance.

The participants dispersed by 9pm.

The Subang Jaya/USJ SJK(C) school's working committee which opposes the setting up of a Vision school in Subang Jaya were among the participants who turned up for the meeting.

The Subang Jaya/USJ school committee is concerned that there is only one Chinese school, the Lick Hung Chinese school, to cater for the 100,000-strong Chinese community in the housing estate.

The existing Chee Wen school has to utilise classrooms from another school as it own building is not yet ready.