Sabah anti-graft rally: Student group slams police, PM over sedition probe

Summary

• Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 organiser condemns the arrest of three student activists who participated in the anti-graft protest.

• Two of the students torched a caricature of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the demonstration.

• The organiser says the police’s investigation of the three under the Sedition Act is a form of oppression, noting Anwar’s previous opposition to the law.

The organiser of the “Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0” rally in Kota Kinabalu has slammed the police for arresting three student activists in connection with the protest.

In a statement, student activist group Suara Mahasiswa UMS claimed that police summoned the trio to the Kota Kinabalu district police headquarters over a report that one of them had lodged about an acid attack, which saw several cars damaged during the rally over the weekend.

However, the activists were instead met by a huge number of police officers who allegedly acted aggressively against the activists.

“Suara Mahasiswa UMS condemns the arrests and aggressive action by the authorities against them.

“This has tarnished the good name of the police, which was supposed to serve the rakyat,” the movement said.

‘Hypocritical oppression’

They branded the police decision to use the Sedition Act in their probe against the trio as a form of oppression and hypocrisy, and pointed out that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had a long history of fighting against the draconian law.

“However, today this Act is being used during his era to silence the voice of the rakyat who are brave enough to fight against corruption.

“Thus, Suara Mahasiswa UMS today launch our solidarity campaign called #Sabah3 as a form of solidarity with the three activists,” the group said.

Earlier today, it was reported that police have arrested student activists Fadhil Kasim, Aliff Danial Badrul Akmal Hisham, and Sabir Syarafuddin over the anti-corruption rally.

Fadhil and Kasim were involved in torching a banner with a caricature of Anwar, while Sabir did not participate in the burning.

According to Kota Kinabalu police chief Kasim Muda, police are investigating the students under the Sedition Act, among others.

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