Cops come under fire for their 'inaction'

Angkatan Warga Aman Malaysia (WargaAman) has called for urgent police action against the "aggressors" who disrupted the Anything But Umno (ABU) ceramah in Shah Alam last Saturday.

The coalition of 20 Indian non-governmental groups has demanded to know why there is no action against those who gatecrashed the ceramah, and insisted that it be called off.

“Where and why is the Home Minister Hishammuddin (Hussien) and the inspector-general of police so quiet? Let’s see what action the police will take to bring the culprits to justice,” said the coalition’s secretary-general S Barathidasan.

The “Tamatkan Regim Umno/BN” (End Umno/BN Regime) ceramah organised by ABU and the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) at the Shah Alam City Council hall was cancelled following the scuffle, that left one injured.

The ceramah organisers lodged a police reportyesterday, suspecting that police were also in cahoots with the assailants.

According to those who witnessed the incident, a “rowdy mob” interrupted ABU’s ceramah and hurled racial slurs at the participants, ordering them to vacate the hall.

“Such gangsterism must be stoped. It is the duty and responsibility of the police to protect citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble and speak.
                                    
“The police, however, have skirted around the matter contending that nobody was injured in the melee. The police are definitely in cohort with the gangsters for not taking any action immediately,” added Barathidasan.

He reminded that even if no one was assaulted, the authorities should investigate the incident nonetheless, “as (it’s) highly possible the incident will escalate into something serious”.