Protest to kick off new parliament session

15 NGOs will gather outside the legislative house to denounce abuse of police powers.

KUALA LUMPUR: It appears that the 13th session of the Malaysian Parliament will have as its curtain raiser a street demonstration against the government’s reluctance to establish the proposed Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

The National Indian Rights Action Team (NIAT) said today that it would lead 15 NGOs in a peaceful protest outside Parliament House on June 24.

NIAT chairman Thasleem Mohd Ibrahim told a press conference here that police had given the green light for the protest.

“In a discussion with Sentul police chief Zakaria Pagan yesterday, we were told that the gathering must be 150 metres away from the parliament guard house,” he said.

He added that NIAT and the other NGOs would not budge from their insistence on the establishment of the IPCMC and rejection of other proposals—including the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC)—to prevent abuse of police powers.

According to him, the protesters will use the occasion also to pressure the government against promoting the novel Interlok and the film Tanda Putera, both of which are controversial for their alleged racist undertones.

Thasleem expressed gratitude to Radio Television Malaysia for cancelling a plan to produce a movie based on Interlok. Critics have alleged that the novel, written by national laureate Abdullah Hussein, contains factual errors as well as misinterpretations of Hinduism.

However, the NIAT chief said he was disappointed that the government was allowing the public screening of Tanda Putra, directed by the award winning Shuhaimi Baba.

Tanda Putra is based on the racial clashes of May 13, 1969. Critics say it misrepresents that traumatic episode of Malaysian history.

It is believed the movie will debut in Malaysian cinemas on Aug 29, two days before Independence Day.

“We want the movie screened first for members of parliament for their reaction,” said Thasleem.

Referring to Interlok, Thasleem demanded that the government explain why the student edition was still available despite the Federal Cabinet’s decision to ban it.

“Normally, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka will destroy any book banned by the government,” he said. “We feel there is something fishy going on.”