Police have recorded statements from three PSM leaders on a gathering at Parliament where farmers from Perak attempted to hand over a memorandum last Tuesday.

According to their lawyer Y Kohila, the trio - PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan, honorary treasurer Soh Sook Hwa, and PSM Youth member Ayman Hareez - were questioned under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in the discharge of public functions.

"The questions asked had nothing to do with what they (the three) were accused of.

"For example, they were asked who the organiser of the event was, what were their roles, and whether they made any placards and so on," she told reporters outside the Dang Wangi police headquarters this afternoon.

Earlier, the lawyer accompanied the trio for the statement recording session which lasted for slightly more than an hour.

According to Kohila, her clients refused to answer any of the questions posed, saying they would answer in court. Police responded by asking them what they were "planning to answer" in court.

The trio were also not shown any police report lodged against them pertaining to the matter, she added.

Farmers and PSM members during the protest

Kohila dubbed the questioning "a waste of time", as the police already had the answers to the questions.

"Who gave the speech, who carried what placards - they (cops) can easily see this in videos of the event."

'This should stop'

Arutchelvan chimed in, saying he was presented with 22 questions.

"I think this (questioning people) has to stop, and stopping people from going to Parliament also has to stop.

"In fact, Section 186 should be used against the police for stopping the rakyat from going to Parliament, and not the other way round," he quipped.

Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim (front second left) with the farmers and PSM’s S Arutchelvan (front right)

The trio had accompanied the group of farmers to plead with Putrajaya to intervene in state government plans to turn their farms into a housing and industrial development area.

PSM deputy secretary-general Bawani KS previously called the summoning of the trio for questioning an act of police intimidation.

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