Hundreds of thousands of people, from Russia to Turkey, rallied on May Day to commemorate workers’ struggle, call for better working conditions and to protest against government policies.
I understand this.
In Malaysia, peoples’ emotions are running high, after the detention of prominent activist Ambiga Sreenevasan. In one of the online news websites, she is quoted as saying that she is surprised with the police action as the rally was peaceful.
But the police have said there were a small fire, smoke bomb and derogatory graffiti insulting the police at the International Workers Day March to KLCC.
This is totally unacceptable. And if left unchecked can spiral out of control and explode into anarchy on the streets.
I support the action of the police force in reigning in the protesters and rally organisers, as they have to take responsibility for the hooliganism, which was also a part of Friday’s protest walk.
But having said that, I also believe the police has an obligation to carry out their duty without fear or favor.
Malaysians have registered their dissatisfaction with the way the police handled the cross protest, as it is commonly known now.
This is where a group of people demonstrated outside a church, demanding the place of worship took down a cross that was prominently displayed outside the building.
Amendments to the Sedition Act clearly states that such protests are seditious as it has the potential to tear down the fabric of our multi-racial, multi-religious society.
The police chief Khalid Abu Bakar quickly dismissed the protest as non-seditious. In a sharp contrast, Home Minister Zahid Hamidi had insisted the protesters could be charged for sedition.
Civil society groups and human rights workers had slammed the action of the police and branded it as reeking of double standards.
As such, its imminent the police played an impartial role in maintaining the peace and security of our country.
We as Malaysians need to be accountable for our actions. When organisers call for rallies, they have to be responsible for the outcome of the rally. They also need to ensure the protest adheres to the Peaceful Assembly Act and has a police permit.
Disregarding laws and taking to the streets nonchalantly mean the protesters and their organisers can be hauled in for questioning.
The police are only doing their job.
Friday’s arrests would have been avoided if the organisers of the rally had done theirs.
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