KUALA LUMPUR – Police have opened an investigation paper against the Turun Malaysia protest organisers, having repeatedly warned that stern action will be taken against those who attended the protest earlier today.
In a statement, Dang Wangi district chief Noor Dellhan Yahaya said an investigation paper was opened under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012.
“So far, 30 individuals have been identified and all these individuals involved in the protest will be called to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters to give their statement soon,” he said, adding that police will act to the full extent of the law against lawbreakers.
Section 9(5) of the PAA imposes a requirement that the officer in charge of the police district must be notified five days in advance of an assembly. Failure to do so may result in a fine not exceeding RM10,000.
Noor Dellhan also stated that police estimated some 100 people attended the protest, including notable politicians and a few others who are in the process of being identified.
At the protest today, the majority of protesters were mainly university students expressing their disappointment in the government for failing to fight for the rights of the people.
Despite the low turnout, the protest went ahead with speeches from a few notable public figures, including newly minted PKR Youth chief Adam Adli Abd Halim and Kapar MP Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid.
Anchoring the protest was Amir Abdul Hadi, a Turun Malaysia committee member and Muda co-founder, who reiterated demands made by the group for ministers to resign and for their salaries to be cut and channelled to help their fellow Malaysians.
Protesters had also attempted to head to Dataran Merdeka, which was halted by police who then allowed them to protest on a short strip of road on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
The protest, which began at 2pm, concluded at 3pm with protesters quickly dispersing under police supervision.
Yesterday, Turun Malaysia called on Malaysians to gather at Sogo at 2pm, saying it would be demanding for ministers to take pay cuts, subsidy measures to be maintained, the channelling of better assistance to those in need, and for the government to control the price of goods and ensure food security. – The Vibes, July, 23, 2022
