KUALA LUMPUR – Ipoh Barat MP M. Kula Segaran has joined his fellow opposition lawmakers in lodging a report against those who instructed police to cordon off roads leading to Parliament yesterday.
The DAP vice-chairman in a statement today said the order “clearly came from someone in a position of power” as cops could not cite a specific provision of the law under which they acted to block access to the building.
“I have lodged a police report after not being allowed into Parliament yesterday.
“These police officers, when asked, couldn’t even tell us under which provision of the law they were blocking off Parliament. What has been done by police is misguided. It was wrong for them to block the entrance to Parliament.
“Clearly, the instruction came from someone in a position of power.”
Yesterday, Batu lawmaker P. Prabakaran and Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir (Johor Baru) lodged a report at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters on the same matter.
Kula Segaran also slammed Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun for keeping mum on the incident yesterday morning that saw Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) officers blocking 107 opposition parliamentarians’ march from Dataran Merdeka towards the august House.
Isn’t the speaker aware of what has been happening in the corridors of Parliament? Or is he not around to partake in this matter? Where is the speaker, why is he silent?
“As the speaker, he should at least speak out so that all can hear him.”
He called for the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), saying the force cannot be tasked with investigating internal abuses and mistakes.
“Surely they cannot be the judge, jury and prosecutor in this matter. Thus, the call to set up IPCMC becomes so vital yet again, as in the present scenario.
“Issues of conflict and self-interest can be arrested. IPCMC will also instil a high level of confidence in the police force, and bring about more independent and transparent investigations.”
PRESS STATEMENT:
— M. Kula Segaran (@mkula) August 3, 2021
I have lodged a police report after not being allowed into Parliament yesterday.
As a Member of Parliament and each time I am elected as a MP, it is my solemn duty to the people of my constituency and nation, to bring their voices to Parliament. pic.twitter.com/iryDImW0Az
The former human resources minister urged the government to establish an independent commission to investigate why opposition MPs were prevented from entering Parliament yesterday.
“The government can then report back through a White Paper in Parliament as to what went wrong yesterday, why MPs were blocked from entering Parliament, and proposals for future legislation to avoid this nonsense from ever happening again.”
Yesterday, all roads leading to Parliament were cordoned off by police, including a barricade set up by FRU in Jalan Parlimen.
Opposition MPs who marched towards the House from Dataran Merdeka were halted at the Bulatan Dato Onn-Jalan Parlimen junction when police intervened.
The lawmakers were soon brought to a standstill at the FRU barricade.
In a press conference later, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Azmi Abu Kassim said a probe will be conducted into the march.
The case will be investigated under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, Section 269 of the Penal Code, and Section 9 of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, he said.
Asked if MPs can enter Parliament despite sessions being suspended, he said they are allowed to do so, as they have offices there.
“Police also received information that there were groups intending to organise the Solidariti Bersama Anwar Ibrahim rally in Parliament, which led police to cordoning off the premises.
“This is not about the MPs. This is based on information we received. This is to uphold public order and safety.” – The Vibes, August 3, 2021
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