'Traitorous' Harapan's silence on PSM leader's arrest deafening: Latheefa

The silence of Pakatan Harapan’s leaders on the arrest of PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan - better known as Arul - is deafening, said lawyer Latheefa Koya.

The Lawyers for Liberty co-founder said it shows they have become “traitors” to everything good and the ideals they once claimed to champion.

“After standing with PSM’s Arutchelvan for decades, in rain or shine, against the oppression and injustice of BN, they’re okay with Arutchelvan being nabbed at night over a memorandum to Parliament.

“If they’re not okay with it, why don’t they open their mouths and say something? Or do something since they are in power? 

“I hope they don’t try to pretend it’s the police doing it and not them. They’re the government, it’s their policies that permit the police to go after activists like Arutchelvan,” she said in a post on X last night.

Scuffle outside Parliament

Arutchelvan was arrested following a scuffle with police outside Parliament on Aug 13 when PSM and other activists wanted to submit a memorandum to urge the government to enact a law that would require plantation companies to build housing for their workers.

Police had tried to block the group from going to the Parliament gates, and the ensuing scuffle saw Arutchelvan falling to the ground. Police later said one of their officers was also injured in the incident.

This led to police summoning the PSM leader to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters for questioning yesterday evening, where he was arrested and detained for six hours before being released on police bail around midnight.

In a message hours after his release, Arutchelvan thanked his supporters for their solidarity.

“I am convinced that my release is due to the massive pressure from all of you. I could hear the phone ringing, and I was informed by some sources that the pressure was tremendous, which resulted in my release. 

“Thank you to all of you for whatever role you played. It gives us assurances that if we fight, we will win eventually,” he said.

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