Anti-graft rally 'flares' up, student claims manhandled

Summary

• The Himpunan Rakyat Benci Rasuah rally in Kuala Lumpur today became tense after one of the participants lit a flare.

• Universiti Malaya Students’ League Organisation activist Ahsanul Akmal Sulam alleges he was manhandled by an officer named Zulfekar during the scuffle, resulting in his shirt getting torn.

• Spokesperson of the rally secretariat, Brendon Gan, says they will lodge a police report on the matter soon.

The Himpunan Rakyat Benci Rasuah rally today, attended by around 100 people, became tense after a participant lit a flare, causing red smoke to engulf the area.

The 4.30pm incident occurred after an activist lit the flare after a speech at the tail-end of the rally.

Subsequently, the police intervened to seize the flare, but the situation grew uneasy after some participants tried to block the authorities.

Earlier, rallygoers had gathered outside the Sogo Shopping Complex at about 2.30pm, before marching to Dataran Merdeka through Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman to force the government to hasten promised institutional reforms to eradicate corruption.

Commenting on the incident, one unidentified police officer claimed they only wanted to take away the flare.

However, the matter was disputed by Universiti Malaya Students’ League Organisation activist Ahsanul Akmal Sulam, alleging that an officer tried to pull him away.

“Lighting the flare was initially part of my gimmick, which is to be followed up by unveiling a tombstone with the words ‘Reformati 1998-2025’ engraved on it.

“But suddenly, one of the police officers pulled me away by holding my collar, resulting in my shirt getting torn,” he told Malaysiakini.

Malaysiakini learnt that while Ahsanul made the plan, someone else lit the flare.

Livid, several undergraduates tried to surround the officer in an attempt to get his name and police identification number, but claimed the cop managed to escape.

The participants then demanded information on the offending cop from other officers so they could lodge a police report.

Later, the students found out the officer’s name was Zulfekar, from the Dang Wangi district police headquarters.

Protesters demand probe into alleged police misconduct

Meanwhile, spokesperson of the rally secretariat, Brendon Gan, said they would lodge a police report on the matter soon.

“We pledge our solidarity with Ahsanul, who was earlier manhandled by a police officer named Zulkefar until the former’s shirt got torn.

“We are gathered here peacefully by meeting all requirements, but what happened earlier was disappointing and shameful.

“About an hour was spent seeking the officer’s details, but we were was denied on the excuse of protecting his privacy.

“What about our privacy when (Ahsanul) was manhandled until his shirt got torn? Is this reasonable… is this reformasi or reformati?” Gan asked.

The 24-year-old added that the Independent Police Conduct Commission must investigate the matter thoroughly.

Group demands reform, warns of mass action

Meanwhile, the group made four demands to the government to ensure reforms take place as promised:

1. Separate the attorney-general’s office from the public prosecutor, with no interference from the Prime Minister’s Department on prosecutorial matters.

2. Ensure MACC becomes a truly independent body, which includes revisions to its laws and imposing a term limit for its chief commissioner.

3. Introduce a Political Funding Act as proposed by a bipartisan parliamentary committee.

4. Dispense justice for the family of the late Teoh Beng Hock.

Gan also warned that the people would not remain silent, adding that mass movements will continue until the government acts on the demands.

“We are not here to make a scene, but this is the only way left to ensure the people’s voices would be heard.

“If the government has principles and the opposition still has a conscience, then hear us out before we come back again with stronger actions,” he added.

The crowd dispersed peacefully at 5.50pm.

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