Police believe that no public assembly is ever peaceful, despite claims by organisers and civil society, police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said.
This is why it is important for organisers to inform the force if they are organising rallies, so police can “facilitate” and ensure safety.
“Many people say we should allow demonstrations that are peaceful. Is there a demonstration that is peaceful?
“At the very least someone will get thrown with a water bottle or punched. There is never a peaceful demonstration so police have to take precautions,” Khalid (left) said.
In the case of the New Year’s Eve anti-price hike rally, he stressed that police were just responding to some posts made on the Internet to turn it into a rally to topple the government.
“Are we supposed to keep quiet about it? Is this child’s play? It’s a serious call. Should we not take action?
“No, we take steps because otherwise someone would take the post to topple the government seriously and join it,” he said.
He stressed that it was not police or other authorities who were spreading information that the rally is to topple the government.
Although this turned out to be untrue, Khalid noted that police did find a cache of sharp weapons at the scene following a tip-off.
“But we were are not able to find a culprit as we have no leads,” he said when asked of all the weapons including molotov cocktails found prior to the 2012 Bersih rally.
'Organisers want a crackdown'
Meanwhile, he claimed that rally organisers do not want to inform police of their rallies as they want a crackdown for publicity purposes.
“They want us to bring out the water cannons and batons, to take action so that later they can show the world we are taking action on peaceful protesters,” he said.
Commenting on the rally by journalists for media freedom last week he said: “Be it red pencil rally, blue pencil rally, I am tired of saying it but everyone must follow the Peaceful Assembly Act.”
“How difficult is it to give (10 days notice) to police so police can say what days and times (are suitable) and we can supervise,” he said.
Khalid also said that “illegal demonstrations” are “one of his biggest concerns” for 2014, expecting the situation to peak mid-2015.
He said that this is due cost of living outstripping income hikes, the April 1, 2015 scheduled implementation of the Goods and Services Tax and political parties gearing up for the polls which could take place as early as 2016.
He said that this is also fuelled by protests in neighbouring Thailand and riots in Singapore.
“All over the world (there are protests)... including in Egypt and Syria and this is followed by some youths here,” he said.
This is why it is important for organisers to inform the force if they are organising rallies, so police can “facilitate” and ensure safety.
“Many people say we should allow demonstrations that are peaceful. Is there a demonstration that is peaceful?
“At the very least someone will get thrown with a water bottle or punched. There is never a peaceful demonstration so police have to take precautions,” Khalid (left) said.In the case of the New Year’s Eve anti-price hike rally, he stressed that police were just responding to some posts made on the Internet to turn it into a rally to topple the government.
“Are we supposed to keep quiet about it? Is this child’s play? It’s a serious call. Should we not take action?
“No, we take steps because otherwise someone would take the post to topple the government seriously and join it,” he said.
He stressed that it was not police or other authorities who were spreading information that the rally is to topple the government.
Although this turned out to be untrue, Khalid noted that police did find a cache of sharp weapons at the scene following a tip-off.
“But we were are not able to find a culprit as we have no leads,” he said when asked of all the weapons including molotov cocktails found prior to the 2012 Bersih rally.
'Organisers want a crackdown'
Meanwhile, he claimed that rally organisers do not want to inform police of their rallies as they want a crackdown for publicity purposes.
“They want us to bring out the water cannons and batons, to take action so that later they can show the world we are taking action on peaceful protesters,” he said.
Commenting on the rally by journalists for media freedom last week he said: “Be it red pencil rally, blue pencil rally, I am tired of saying it but everyone must follow the Peaceful Assembly Act.”“How difficult is it to give (10 days notice) to police so police can say what days and times (are suitable) and we can supervise,” he said.
Khalid also said that “illegal demonstrations” are “one of his biggest concerns” for 2014, expecting the situation to peak mid-2015.
He said that this is due cost of living outstripping income hikes, the April 1, 2015 scheduled implementation of the Goods and Services Tax and political parties gearing up for the polls which could take place as early as 2016.
He said that this is also fuelled by protests in neighbouring Thailand and riots in Singapore.
“All over the world (there are protests)... including in Egypt and Syria and this is followed by some youths here,” he said.
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