TAWAU – One of seven individuals detained yesterday over a peaceful demonstration in Kg Muhibbahraya here is alleging that he was hit by the authorities while in a van on the way to the police station.
Relating the incident via his Twitter account, Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) secretary-general Amir Abdul Hadi said activist Mukmin Nantang personally told him about the incident.
Saya dimaklumkan Mukmin Nantang dipukul semasa dalam van, sewaktu dalam perjalanan ke balai polis.
— amirx abd hadi (@amirxabdhadi) April 24, 2021
Kurang ajar!
“Not sure (how serious it was). We did not get to chat for long. What I know is that he was hit inside the van (on their way to the police station),” Amir told The Vibes.
It is understood that Mukmin is one of five individuals detained for holding a peaceful demonstration outside Kg Muhibbah Raya at about 3.30pm yesterday.
About 30 men gathered to protest the extension of the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) in the village that will only end on May 8.
It is understood that police later detained two more men at the town here yesterday for attempting to start another protest for the same reason.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali told The Vibes that police have not received a report relating to the abuse alleged by Mukmin.
“If we receive a police report, we will investigate it immediately.”
The case has courted criticism from some members of the public, civil society groups, and political parties.
Amir had issued a statement yesterday urging police to release the detainees, saying that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government does not respect the people’s freedom of speech.
Meanwhile, Terengganu Wanita PKR Youth chief Yuslaini Azmi in a statement today questioned the role of the Sabah government in the matter.
“Where are the people’s representatives in Tawau? Why are they being quiet? Where is the Sabah state government? Are they not alert to how their people are suffering?
“We could disagree with the act of protesting, but do we agree that the people’s representatives and the state government are neglecting the people of Sabah?”
The magistrates’ court here today granted the authorities a two-day remand order for the detainees, although police applied for a four-day order.
Lawyer Raymond Guok, representing the detainees, said there is no risk of the men leaving Tawau due to the current travel ban and keeping them in police custody will increase the risk of Covid-19 as well as the physical and mental difficulties they face during the fasting month.
Guok said the seven men are being investigated under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act, Act 188 of the Penal Code (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant), and Section 25 of the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) Ordinance 2021 that allows for fines of up to RM10,000.
According to a source who took part in the protest, the group wanted to help the villagers voice their concerns over the EMCO extension as most of them are low-income families earning daily wages.
The source said five of them are activists and friends who were trying to help, while two are Kg Muhibbahraya villagers.
Police have since dismissed allegations that they assaulted the individual, as reported by Bernama.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali said the allegations by a local news portal are unfounded, and he has ordered an immediate investigation to be conducted.
“Based on investigations so far, police strongly deny that our senior officers or any other personnel violated the rights of a person under arrest, what more to commit acts of violence on the individual under arrest.
“Police conducted the arrest in accordance with Section 15 of the Criminal Procedure Code,” he said in a statement today.
The news portal reported non-governmental organisation Bersih as condemning the police for allegedly beating the individual on the chest and shoulders when he was arrested along with six other activists at the demonstration.
Hazani advised the public and other concerned parties to check their facts before making any allegations.
“They are being investigated for obstructing civil servants from discharging their duties, violating the Covid-19 preventive standard operating procedures and holding an assembly without permit,” he said when contacted by Bernama.
Peter said the suspects, aged between 27 and 31, have been remanded for two days until tomorrow. – The Vibes, April 25, 2021
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