KUALA LUMPUR – A nasi lemak seller from Baling who lost three family members during the devastating floods in Baling was among a group of nine individuals – including politicians – investigated today over their involvement in a brief protest on September 24.
Asri Balkis, 48, said he had travelled to the city centre to hand over a memorandum to Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who was at the Sogo shopping complex here for the gathering.
“I want the voices of people in Baling to be heard in Parliament. The main issue here is that we still feel unsafe,” he told reporters after a two-hour questioning session at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters, as quoted by Malaysiakini.
“I did not expect to be called up today (but) police contacted me (on September 24) while I was travelling back to Kedah.”
Asri, whose nickname is Pak Atan, said his family home in Kg Iboi, Kupang was among several areas hit by several periodic floods since June, with water levels occasionally rising up to his chest and damaging his two motorcycles.
The protest on September 24 was organised by Muda to object against the 15th general election (GE15) being held anytime soon, as the nation braces to face the monsoon season which normally sees massive floods.
During the rally – which took place for less than an hour – Asri had taken to the stage and pleaded to the government to postpone GE15 and focus on helping the people, many of whom are still traumatised by recent disasters.
Syed Saddiq had also said then that the blood of lives lost during floods will be on the hands of Umno Youth as the party continues to “irresponsibly” urge for an expedited GE15.
The Muar MP, who was also called in by police today, stressed that authorities should not be heavy-handed against flood victims and turn a blind eye to environmentally destructive activities.
“What makes me angry is not that we (politicians) are being questioned, but how flood victims like Pak Atan are being dragged along and made to travel again for investigations,” Malaysiakini quoted him as saying.
“He (Asri) was just submitting his ideas and now he is being questioned…that is not right! Leave him out!”
Others from Muda who were investigated today included party deputy president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz, as well as executive central committee members Nurainie Haziqah Shafii and Nurafiqah Zulkifli, and student wing member Ashraff Fahmy.
Politicians from different parties were also hauled in, including DAP’s Pasir Pinji assemblyman Howard Lee and Kg Tunku assemblyman Lim Yi Wei, as well as Amanah mobilisation chief and Taman Templer assemblyman Mohd Sany Hamzan. – The Vibes, September 28, 2022
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