Youth group alleges police provocation during rally outside Parliament

 

Youth group Mandiri today cried intimidation after a police officer allegedly provoked participants of a peaceful assembly, who wanted to deliver a memorandum on narcotics law to Parliament.

According to Mandiri coordinator Wong Ku Kui, the incident occurred around noon when the group gathered in front of Parliament’s main entrance to seek reforms of Malaysia’s law on cannabis.

“The situation suddenly became tense when a police officer, who was not wearing full uniform, started provoking (protesters) by accusing us of being under the influence of drugs and threatening to arrest us.

“He also used curse words.

“This gangster-like attitude was clearly an act of intimidation, abuse of power, lacking integrity, and not in line with the police’s professional values,” Wong claimed in a statement.

The activist also shared a short video clip of the alleged incident, which showed a group of protesters in a verbal altercation with a man clad in a dark grey T-shirt and black trousers, believed to be a police officer based on his sidearm.

The alleged police officer being held back by other officers

Following a heated exchange, the officer was then seen dashing towards the group but was stopped by several other officers, who calmed him down.

Malaysiakini has contacted the Kuala Lumpur police for comments.

In his statement, Wong stressed that the police have the duty to protect the people’s security and peace instead of intimidating them.

He urged the law enforcement agency to take action against the officer involved and to implement its plan to equip every officer with a body camera.

Meanwhile, about the protest, Wong said Mandiri was there to support a group called the Malaysian Cannabis Awareness Association to push for reforms in Malaysia’s narcotics laws.

He said the movement urged the government to repeal Section 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which criminalises drug abusers, and for drug addicts to be treated as patients who need treatment instead of being sent to lockup, among others.

The group’s memorandum was submitted to representatives of the Health Ministry and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman. - Mkini