24 arrested at PJ vigil 'may not face charges'

The police have cancelled bail imposed on 24 individuals arrested at the Nov 9 candlelight vigil - an indication that action will not be taken against them.

PJ Utara MP Tony Pua, one of those involved, said most of the group had reported to the PJ police station this morning as required.

“The police told us that if there is anything else, they will call us. It’s a non-committal way of saying no action will be taken us,” he claimed when contacted today.

Two individuals based in Penang had faxed their bail paper to the PJ police station, according to Pua.

Elaborating on the cancellation of police bail, he said the arrests had been “unnecessary” in the first place, since most of the individuals arrested had been participating in a peaceful gathering.

One of them, Malaysiakini videographer Shukri Mohammad, was on duty that night to record footage of the candlelight vigil. Apart from arresting him, police also confiscated his video camera and tape, and held these for about two weeks.

Pua also drew attention to police treatment of a pro-Internal Security Act (ISA) march organised by a group of Islamic NGOs, heritage associations and Malay cultural organisations under an umbrella body called Prowaris in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

“We are not asking action to be taken against Prowaris but doesn’t this showed the double standards (of the police) in handling such matters?” he asked, referring to the fact that no action was taken against the group.

Pua, along with Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu and Kampung Tunku state assemblyperson Lau Weng San, were among the 24 arrested during the vigil.

All of them were released on police bail after they were held overnight for questioning. They were told to report to the police station today to determine whether any further action would be taken against them.

The vigil was held to protest the ISA and to observe the first anniversary of the Nov 10 Bersih mammoth rally last year, for free and fair elections.