Scuffle between cops and protesters, PSM leader takes a tumble

A scuffle ensued between several estate workers and the police after the authorities were seen attempting to prevent a march to the Parliament gates.

In footage sighted by Malaysiakini, PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan also fell to the ground during the melee.

Livid, protesters started shouting “Jangan tolak” (Don’t push), “Henti” (Stop), and “So aggressive”. After he got up, the police were seen attempting to block Arutchelvan and several others from marching further.

Arutchelvan said such incidents should not have happened, as the people have the right to gather peacefully outside Parliament.

“They tried to stop us… We told them we wouldn’t enter the Parliament compound. We don’t want to stand far from Parliament.

“We feel the people have the right to assemble outside parliament - right here outside the gates, not across the road. We want to gather outside Parliament, and that’s why today we clashed; they (the police) blocked us, but (in the end) allowed us in.

“Our constitution does not prohibit peaceful assemblies without weapons,” he said when met by the media in front of the Parliament entrance today.

Housing requirement

Earlier, Arutchelvan, along with hundreds of plantation workers, marched from Taman Tugu in the capital to Parliament.

The march and gathering were aimed at submitting a memorandum to urge the government to enact a law that would require plantation companies to build housing for their workers.

The memorandum was handed over to Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M Kulasegaran, a representative of the second deputy prime minister, and Perikatan Nasional chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan.

According to Arutchelvan, the plantation worker representatives came from Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Johor, and Kedah.

“We have already prepared a draft of this act to make it easier for the government’s work, and we have submitted it to five state governments,” he added.

He explained that, as far back as the era of former prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein, a scheme had been established requiring plantation companies to build housing for plantation workers.

However, due to the absence of a specific law, plantation companies have not complied with this requirement.

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