We received police approval, why are we being probed, ask veterans

 

The veterans at their gathering at Tugu Negara on Monday. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: An army veteran has questioned why police are investigating a peaceful demonstration at Tugu Negara (National Monument) on Monday which he claimed had received the go-ahead.

Mior Rosli Mior Jaafar claimed a group of veterans had a meeting with police on May 31, where the two parties reached a “verbal agreement” to allow the veterans to hold the event at Tugu Negara, during which traffic control, ambulances and police protection would be provided.

Mior said he was certain that police had approved the gathering when he saw policemen at Tugu Negara on Monday directing traffic, with two ambulances also placed on standby.

“I assumed what they (police) said was true, that the event was approved,” he told FMT. “We were not marching, nor were we provoking the government. We just wanted to speak about our rights.

“We made sacrifices for this country during the Emergency. We were the ones who protected this country from the communists, and this is how we are treated?

“It is not right to treat the veterans this way.”

Another veteran, Rafique Ali Ahmad Nordin, said he was part of the group that met the police on May 31.

“On June 2, two police officers came to see me in Seremban to clarify some matters,” he told FMT. “We were sure that they (police) had given us verbal approval.”

He also shared a WhatsApp message which outlined what he claimed were details of the “arrangement” reached between both parties.

On Monday, about 2,000 veterans gathered at Tugu Negara, where they called for a review of the pension rate and pension payments for those who had served in the armed forces for fewer than 21 years. Currently, only those who have served for at least 21 years are eligible for a monthly pension.

The veterans said they were left with no other option but to assemble peacefully after eight years of attempting to use the right channels to air their grievances.

Dang Wangi district police chief Noor Dellhan Yahaya said yesterday that six participants were called in to provide statements. He also said police were looking for several others to assist in their investigation.

Noor Dellhan said an investigation paper had been opened under Section 9 of the Peaceful Assembly Act, which required organisers to notify the relevant district police chief at least 10 days before an assembly was held. - FMT