Hadi told to give statement on PAS gatherings
Sep 5, 05 5:57pm
The police have sought PAS president Abdul Hadi Awangs assistance in connection with investigations into two political rallies in Kuala Terengganu on Aug 26 - these turned chaotic after police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse participants.
Abdul Hadi - also PAS Terengganu adviser - received the police summons along with five other state leaders including deputy commissioners Wan Abdul Muttalib Embong and Harun Taib.
Wan Abdul Muttalib told malaysiakini that they have been told to report to the Terengganu police headquarters tomorrow morning to have their statements recorded under Section 111 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
I have not looked at the summons myself, but I believe it is connected to Batu Enam (in Kuala Terengganu) incident where police had used water cannon and tear gas to disperse those attending a ceramah (political talk) held in a mosque there, he said when contacted.
Abdul Hadi had addressed one of the two rallies, which together drew an attendance of about 2,000.
Newspapers reported that protestors responded by hurling chilli paste, rocks
and water bottles at the police. Several police cars and two flagpoles were allegedly damaged during the fracas.
The protestors are also alleged to have attacked an Umno branch office and a police base, throwing bricks through the windows. Twelve people have been arrested.
Right to hold rallies
The incident was discussed during a meeting on Sept 1 between a delegation of PAS leaders headed by Abdul Hadi and top police officials headed by the Inspector-General of Police Bakri Musa and his deputy Musa Hassan.
Abdul Hadi was accompanied by party secretary general Kamaruddin Jaafar, vice-president Mohamad Sabu, Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub, treasurer Dr Hatta Ramli and legal adviser Hanipah Maidin and Terengganu commissioner Mustafa Ali
Kamaruddin said PAS had, among other matters, raised the partys difficulties in exercising their right to hold political talks and rallies.
The police claimed
that they are acting according to the law, but we feel that there have been discrepancies in the administration of the law. We highlighted a series of incidents when we had encountered great difficulty in holding ceramah in Terengganu, he said when contacted.
The IGP assured us that he will look into our complaints. He said the police would act professionally and abide by the law and that they want to play a role in advancing democracy in Malaysia.
He also said a detailed account has been submitted on abuse by the Terengganu police against PAS leaders and supporters who attended various political gatherings between June and August.
Political motive? Mustafa, meanwhile, said he hoped the report would shed light on the ambiguous actions taken by the police under a false pretence of upholding
security as allegedly happened in Terengganu.
I believe the detailed account and chronology will indirectly support our allegations of the close relationship between the state police and Umno Terengganu.
We suspect that there is a political motive behind the harsh police conduct. I believe the state government wants to frustrate our attempts to provide the truth about its administration.
He added that state police chief Hussin Ismails failure to meet with PAS state leaders had compounded the suspicion.
Even the IGP has acceded to the partys request for a cordial meeting. If the No 1 can spare some time for us, why not the state police chief?
We have made requests but received no reply... weve said if you cannot meet us at our time, give us your date and we will come, but there has been no reply.
Doing our duty
Husin, when contacted, denied Mustafas allegations, stating
that he has no qualms about meeting with the opposition party.
We are open to (the idea of) a meeting, but have not yet set the date. Instead of waiting for a date, they chose to meet the IGP instead, he said.
As to the claims of a political motive, he said the police are performing their duty to enforce the law.
We are government servants and our job is to enforce the law. Thats all there is to it, he added.
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