Nine more arrested in Kg Papan for alleged obstruction

As Kampung Papan demolition works enter its fourth day, the police arrested nine more people, including PSM members and activists.

When contacted, a PSM spokesperson, who requested anonymity, confirmed the matter with Malaysiakini.

“They were arrested under Section 186 of the Penal Code for allegedly obstructing civil servants from doing their duty,” the spokesperson said, adding that the arrests took place at about 11am.

Those arrested are:

- Sivaranjani Manickam (PSM secretary-general)
- Soh Sook Hwa (PSM national treasurer)
- Aein Aneera Anuar (Penang PSM activist)
- Ramasamy Karupan (Klang PSM activist)
- Tan Ka Wei (Kuala Lumpur PSM activist)
- Hridhay Praveen (PSM activist)
- Wong Kueng Hui (Mandiri activist)
- Tang Bing Ai ( Kampung Papan resident)
- Fakrurrazzi Khairur Rijal

Yesterday, the police arrested PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan, activist M Mythreyar, and a resident representative, M Logesvaran.

A day earlier, a 57-year-old resident was arrested and held under remand after he refused to leave his home and threw glass bottles on the floor.

Mythreyar had said all three of them were nabbed under Section 186 of the Penal Code. The trio is scheduled for a remand hearing today.

The demolition works at Kampung Papan began on Monday and will continue until tomorrow.

‘Suspects did not obstruct officers’

One of Arutchelvan’s legal representatives, Chan Yen Hui, claimed that the arrested trio did not actively obstruct officers on duty, but instead were simply posing questions to the police to assist affected Kampung Papan residents.

“This whole thing happened only after these three individuals asked questions like, ‘Can we have another two days so we can help this disabled family move to other places?’

“And Mythreyar just wanted to show a statement from the menteri besar, and that’s the reason they were arrested.

“So we argued that this was an unlawful arrest, and therefore, this remand shouldn’t be allowed,” she said outside the Klang court today.

The legal team has also condemned the confiscation of the suspects’ mobile phones, stating that their contents and the phones themselves are not relevant to an offence charged under Section 186.

‘Abuse of power’

Arutchelvan’s wife, PSM member Letchmi Devi, expressed disappointment over the trio's arrest, claiming the detention was an abuse of power.

“It is definitely an abuse of power, be it towards Arutchelvan, other comrades, or the demolition of the houses that is ongoing now.

“People are safeguarding their houses. Since when did safeguarding houses become an obstruction?

“It’s ridiculous. Since when did human rights defenders become criminals?” she told Malaysiakini.

In a statement, former Klang MP Charles Santiago urged the authorities to release all those detained unconditionally.

“This is an outrage and a show of brute force against people whose only ‘crime’ is defending their homes and dignity.

“The residents of Kampung Papan have already been stripped of land and justice; they must not now be stripped of their freedom,” he said.

Occupied homes also affected

For the record, out of 83 homes, residents of 44 of them managed to obtain an interim injunction against the demolition. The court will decide on the matter on Dec 8.

Malaysiakini has reached out to Selangor state housing and culture committee chairperson Borhan Aman Shah for comments.

Last month, Bernama reported Borhan as saying that the demolition work would only affect vacant houses and business premises, based on a meeting held between stakeholders and Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.

However, as of today, the developer has demolished 15 occupied houses without providing any compensation or temporary housing.

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