DAP offers to help Black Flag protesters challenge RM2,000 fine

 

The three activists were fined after about 40 people joined the protest, waving 14 black flags while standing in front of several effigies of corpses.

PETALING JAYA: Three activists who have been slapped with RM2,000 fines after they were compounded for joining an anti-government protest at Dataran Merdeka on Saturday have been offered help by DAP Kuala Lumpur.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said DAP Kuala Lumpur’s legal team was ready to offer its service on a pro bono basis to take the case to court, adding that the three members of Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat should not have been fined.

In a statement, he said the compound was “undemocratic” and unnecessary as it was a peaceful assembly while Covid-19 SOPs were complied with by the activists.

“Thirdly, although we are in the middle of a pandemic, the people have the right and freedom to voice their views and join a peaceful assembly, as long as SOPs are complied with.

“With strict SOP compliance, there is no reason for anyone to be punished for exercising their absolute right to voice their grouses against a government that has failed to look after them,” he said.

Police had said a group had gathered at Dataran Merdeka to protest against the Perikatan National (PN) government’s management of the pandemic.

Organised by Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat, about 40 people were seen waving 14 black flags and carrying a banner with the hashtag #KeluarDanLawan (Come out and fight), while standing in front of several effigies of corpses. The protest went on for 40 minutes.

The three activists were issued the compounds after being questioned by police for three hours at the Dang Wangi police station here. - FMT