KUALA LUMPUR, 31 Dec: The government has been asked to not use SOSMA, a new act replacing the ISA, to prevent the peaceful assembly protesting against the rising cost of living which is scheduled to take place tonight.
The Coordinator for the Voice of the Malaysian People (SUARAM), Syukri Razab, said that the government’s move to use SOSMA against an activist reflects an illogical move by the authorities because the Act is supposed to be used to prevent violence.
He said Suaram had received information that police were looking for social activist Mohd Zul Raidy Ahmad Tarmizi, or his Facebook name, Eddy Gordo, in connection with the Turun rally.
“Based on information we have received from Mohd Zul’s family and friends, police are investigating him under Section 124D of the Penal Code for printing documents and publications detrimental to national security,” Ahmad Syukri said, quoted from Harakah Daily,
He added that Mohd Zul was involved in the business of printing t-shirts and authorities alleged that he was printing t-shirts with seditious messages.
Mohd Zul’s brother had informed Suaram that a team of 10 policemen from the Taiping District Police Headquarters had visited the family home in Taiping yesterday night looking for him.
“When asked, the police simply stated that Mohd Zul was being investigated for allegedly printing t-shirts which had seditious words for the December 31 rally.
After failing to find Eddy in Taiping, the police then raided a house in Seri Kembangan which Mohd Zul was renting. His housemate told Suaram that the police team came at 1am but Mohd Zul was not around.
The police raided the home and seized t-shirts owned by Mohd Zul, while his housemate was informed that the police was carrying out a arrest and the case will be transferred to Bukit Aman.
The housemate was told to follow the police back to the station to have his statement recorded at 3am. He was only allowed to return home at 7am.
Ahmad Syukri that SUARAM is of the opinion that the police should not attempt to deflect the public’s anger at the rising cost of living by taking offensive measures against the rally organisers.
Shukri said SUARAM must not have a sound basis for the police to take action against the offensive repertoire, but also seen trying to divert the real issues people want addressed.
In relation to that, SUARAM urged the police to stop any intimidation against the 31 December peaceful rally, in addition to demanding the police to stop using the SOSMA which is in violation with fundamental human rights to investigate civilian activists.
“PAS human rights and legal department, Lawyers for Liberty and several human rights lawyers have all volunteered to provide legal assistance to anyone arrested or intimidated by the police before, during and after the rally at Dataran Merdeka tomorrow,” he said in a statement today.,” he said.
He said the public could contact the Suaram office at 03-7784 3525 or sent text messages to 019-8013149 or 013-3845740, if they had any information of arrests or intimidation by the police in connection with the rally.
They should include the details such as the name of the detainee, identification number, location of arrest, the police station where the person is detained as well as the phone number of the detainee if available.
The full list of SUARAM hotlines will be released today on the official website, www.suaram.net, and also on the official Facebook page.
