E Contrario

PROTEST held its 5th gathering in The Summit Square, USJ Subang this Sunday (18 March). The crowd began to congregate at about 16:00hr at the front gate.

As usual, the police came in full force. Their trucks and cars lined along the road, anti-riot squad was already on standby. Hours before our gathering, police and SB were busying sniffing patrolling entire shopping mall. They treated a peaceful event by citizens as if there would be an armed robbery.

I approached the Deputy OCPD Jaafar to inform him that we would deliver a few speeches and distribute anti-toll leaflets. I requested for an hour time for about 5 speakers. I told him let’s do this civilly and no need to use force.

I thought I had shown my courtesy and hoped the police would respond positively. Alas what a wishful thinking.

At 16:20hr I gave my opening speech. I announced that from now on PROTEST’s plan to organize anti-toll demonstration every month. The next gathering will be on 22 April at Leisure Mall, Cheras Batu 6. I also questioned the government about the agreements of highway concession. Despite promises by Samy Vellu, we have not seen any documents been disclosed.

My speech was followed by YB Salehuddin Ayob, the Youth Chief of PAS. The police suddenly played up high pitch siren to drown our voice. Helicopter was circulating above the mall.

When Liew Wing San of DAP started speaking, Deputy OCPD Jaafar took out his loudhailer and started shouting to the crowd. We could not hear a thing, and waved back at him. He then signaled the siren to stop and ordered his men through the hailer to arrest the demonstrators.

In the face of that, the crowd retreated into the shopping mall. We handed out our leaflets to the shoppers and passer-bys. Coincidentally a Taekwando competition was held in the mall. We went in to watch the show while waiting for the police to calm down. This was our shopping-demonstration two-in-one anti-toll package.

After about 20 minutes, Dr Hatta arrived. The crowd regrouped when Dr Hatta delivered his speech. When Ex-ISA detainee Saari Sungib was talking, a few policemen assaulted him. They brutally grasped his neck and dragged him away. The police also targeted a few others. Chan Chee Kong, our KeADILan member from Seputeh was one of them. He was also caught and his videocam was seized. We heard later that the camera chip was confiscated by the police. They said it was a national security material, it would have unknown consequence if it fell into Singaporean hands. (I am serious, the police officers told Chan this.)

They also arrested Nora, her husband Hairy and Khairul Anuar. All of them were taken ferociously.

I stood beside a police officer, unmoved. He politely asked me not to go anywhere. He said he would have to take me in if he receives an order. I complied cooperatively. To his relieved, the order didn’t come.

The police again came to harass the remaining crowd, demanding them to disperse. PROTEST leaders decided to move inside the mall again. We then sat down on the floor in the middle of the foyer facing the Taekwando performance.

Many supporters sat down with us. However in less than 10 minutes, Jaafar came to disperse us. We moved a bit closer to the stage to join the audience watching Taekwando match.

The presence of armed police intimidated the participants of Taekwando—the kids and their parents. The organizer announced a temporary halt to the match. Some shop owners got nervous and shut their doors.

As we did not intend to prolong the tension, we decided to disperse at 17:30hr and suggested everyone to gather at the police station to show support to those arrested. We then found out that they were transported to IPD Subang Jaya at Sri Kembangan. Its location was quite a fair distance away. Perhaps it was done so that people could not gather there.