KUALA LUMPUR – Organisers of today’s black flag protest at Dataran Merdeka will be called up by the police.
Dang Wangi district police chief Mohamad Zainal Abdullah confirmed that three members of the organisers – Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR) – will be fined for allegedly violating the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 which prohibits gatherings.
Zainal added that they are being investigated under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) for failing to notify police about the rally.
In response, SSR said in a statement that the police should instead focus their resources on other matters.
“We respect the police that are carrying out their duties but it would be better to focus their resources on more pressing matters. We gathered and observed SOPs (Covid-19 standard operating procedures) such as social distancing and wore double-layered masks.
“Our demands are for the welfare of the police and frontliners so the Covid-19 situation will be managed more efficiently and for (Prime Minister Tan Sri) Muhyiddin (Yassin) to resign.
“If the instructions came from higher-ups, this proves that they are afraid of the voice of the people that are under pressure. It also shows that they are afraid that the people will come together for a larger action.”
Earlier today, 14 black flags were raised at Dataran Merdeka in a protest demanding, among others, the immediate resignation of Muhyiddin as the head of government.
Aside from black flags, five shrouded figures made to resemble corpses were laid on the historical grounds, to represent those that lost their lives to Covid-19 as well as those who were pushed to suicide by pressures of the pandemic.
Under the watchful eyes of more than 50 police officers, the protestors dispersed after about 20 minutes.
Other demands issued by SSR include an automatic loan moratorium, and that the upcoming special Parliament sitting be more than a “briefing session” for the government.
This is the second time members of SSR have been called up by police.
Following the #BukaPuasaBukaParlimen rally in April, the police opened an investigation under the same section of the PAA.
Subsequently, a number of attendees were called in to Dang Wangi police station to provide statements.
However, a member of SSR denied that the April event was a protest, telling The Vibes: “It’s not a protest per se,” adding that the event was a “peaceful gathering of Malaysians breaking fast together”. – The Vibes, July 17, 2021
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