Cops nab 2 in gathering to protest khat

A section of the crowd at the protest against khat in Brickfields.

PETALING JAYA: Police arrested two people who attended an illegal gathering in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, to protest Putrajaya’s decision to introduce khat (Jawi calligraphy) in vernacular schools.

The two suspects, aged 34 and 67, were nabbed for offences under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA), Kuala Lumpur police chief Mazlan Lazim said in a statement.

Mazlan said the gathering, held from 7pm to 8.30pm, did not get police approval as it failed to fulfil requirements under the (PAA).

Chinese and Tamil educationist groups, including Dong Zong, had voiced opposition when Putrajaya announced that khat lessons would be included in the Bahasa Melayu subject next year for Year 4 pupils in vernacular schools.

Earlier this month, the Cabinet had decided that khat lessons will be renamed Jawi and will be introduced in the syllabus for Year 4 primary school pupils in vernacular schools.

However, it will be optional and will not be a test subject. - FMT