Cops detain 31 people after Covid-19 victims’ vigil at Dataran Merdeka

KUALA LUMPUR – The situation remains tense at Dataran Merdeka here tonight as a vigil in memory of Covid-19 victims is met by heavy police presence.

Organised by youth coalition Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat, the vigil saw police question a number of participants and record their personal information.

A group carrying red roses arrived shortly after 8pm, while a poster reading “Belasungkawa: Jiwa-jiwa yang telah pergi” (Condolences to the departed) was laid at the foot of the giant Jalur Gemilang flagpole.

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Police have hauled up participants of a Covid-19 victims' vigil at Dataran Merdeka today.

Over 20 participants have been detained and it is udnerstood that they will be brought to Dang Wangi police station. pic.twitter.com/VAPW84IIcf

— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) August 19, 2021

At 8.15pm, a member of the group read a statement, before participants lit candles and laid roses on the ground.

Shortly after, police instructed those present to separate into two groups, with men on one side and women on the other.

Police from the Dang Wangi station told reporters to stand some 25m away from the participants.

Police appear to be asking more participants for their identification documents.

A number of participants could be heard negotiating with police, with one saying: “If restaurants can open till 10pm why can't we gather peacefully?”

By 8.50pm, police have hauled up close to 17 participants at the memorial event.

Following what appeared to be a brief shouting match, the participants who were taken – all male – were rounded up and driven off in a Black Maria.

It is understood that they were taken to the Dang Wangi police station.

Seven Parti Sosialis Malaysia members, including a central committee member, were detained by police during the course of the vigil.

The seven were central committee member Chong Yee Shan, Bharathi Paneer Selvam, Gurpreet Singh, Sarah Irdina, Navin, Muaz Ishak, and Irfan Hafizuddin.

Including them, a total of 31 people were arrested and brought to the Dang Wangi police station.

Among those detained include Petaling Jaya city councillor Nalina Nair, Qyira Yusri, Tharma Pillai, and Nurul Rifayah of Undi18.

Thulsi Manogaran from the Centre for Independent Journalism, SSR’s Asraf Sharafi and Muda central executive committee member Khairi Zulfadhli were also among those arrested.

By 9.10pm, all participants had been taken away with police instructing members of the press to disperse. – The Vibes, August 19, 2021