Ipoh cops to probe their own men for alleged mistreatment against five activists

The Ipoh police will investigate claims that their own officers allegedly mistreated five activists who were arrested after holding a protest near the Raja Permaisuri Bainun hospital earlier this month.

Ipoh deputy police chief Mohamed Nordin Abdullah said this in a statement after the activists (photo) filed police reports against the men in blue on the matter at the Ipoh district police headquarters today.

The five activists included the National Union of Workers in Hospital Support and Allied Services (NUWHSAS) executive secretary M Saraswathy, NUWHSAS officials L Danaletchumi and V Santhiran, as well as Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members P Jody and C Subramane.

"On the allegation, we will conduct an internal investigation based on the reports lodged by them. If it's true that (police officers) have abused their power and breached the standard operating procedure (SOP), we will take action," said Nordin.

Earlier, English daily Malay Mail reported that Saraswathy accused the police of violence and misusing their power during the arrest.

“We were wrongfully arrested (though) we followed all the SOPs. The police forced me and four other activists into a ‘Black Maria’ van and we were forcefully chained.

“Despite shouting out in pain, the police officers did not loosen our handcuffs. The police officer also forcefully tried to take one of the activists’ mobile phones,” Saraswathy told the media outside the Ipoh police district headquarters today.

Saraswathy, who is also PSM executive secretary, claimed that the cops had hurled abusive words at them when they struggled to sit down with their hands cuffed in chains.

“The policeman said ‘Jangan bising la (Don't be noisy). Gampang. Bising macam binatang (Noisy like an animal). Duduk diam-diam (Sit quietly),” she claimed.

'Gampang' refers to a child born out of wedlock.

Saraswathy added that despite being taken to the police district headquarters around 1.30pm, the female activists were only transferred to the Pekan Baru police station lockup around midnight.

“All three of us were mistreated badly in the lockup. We were forced to change to lockup attire while the changing room door was open, not given water to take our medicine, forced to bathe using a small, dirty towel, and one of the policemen used abusive words to threaten us.

“One of the activists was also forced to take off her wedding thali (necklace). In Indian culture, women can only take off their thali when their husband is dead,” she said.

Infuriated by the incident, all five activists lodged a report. The union also lodged a separate report on the matter.

The activists were arrested after protesting in front of the Raja Permaisuri Bainun hospital in Ipoh earlier this month. Their protest was to express concerns over alleged poor treatment received of hospital cleaners by Edgenta UEMS, including not given enough Covid-19 protective equipment, denying their union rights, and forcing workers to change working hours and shifts.

Subsequently, they were charged with violating the movement control order.

Saraswathy argued that during the protest, they complied with SOPs such as social distancing, wearing face masks, and checking temperatures.

UEM Edgenta Bhd issued a statement in regards to the protest, denying the various accusations levelled at it. - Mkini