Cops call PKR leader for questioning after price hike protest

 

Former Johor PKR Women’s chief Napsiah Khamis has been called in for questioning at the Bukit Jelutong Police Station today at 1pm over a price hike protest which took place at Bandar Mentakab on July 2.

Napsiah said she was called for questioning under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 after a police report was made in connection with the protest.

Napsiah, who chairs NGO Pertubuhan Kebajikan Bidadari Malaysia, led a group of women protesting the increase in the price of goods.

“While I respect the responsibility of the police to carry out their duties, I also want to remind the authorities that it is the right of the people to assemble peacefully as enshrined in the Constitution.

“We bring the voice of the people demanding that inflated prices of goods are lowered, and subsidies returned,” she said.

This is not the first time price hike protest participants were called by police for questioning.

Just yesterday, PKR Youth chief Adam Adli Abdul Halim along with five other PKR Youth members were called in for questioning at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters over their price hike protest which took place at Pasar Seni last Friday.

Adam called the questioning a form of continuous coercion and said police had also called in Amanah leaders that morning.

Adam Adli Abdul Halim (centre, front row) speaking to the press outside Dang Wangi police station

He said the police should instead focus on more pressing issues such as corruption and abuse of power.

“Rightfully, the police should not just call in activists for questioning, but also act on cases involving corruption and wrongful use of power,” Adam said to members of the media outside Dang Wangi police station.

Meanwhile, Napsiah said the intimidation tactic is an attempt to silence her but she will not go down without a fight.

“There are Umno leaders who are afraid of the rise of the people’s voices, that is why they use the police to try to shut the mouths of me and my friends who raise the people’s concerns.

“We are not afraid of such challenges because what we bring and demand is for the good of all,” she said.

Napsiah added that she stands with women in Malaysia who are suffering due to the price hikes.

“As a woman, I represent all the women in this country who are miserable about the rising prices of these goods,” she said. - Mkini