Muda demands independent probe, action over alleged police force at anti-corruption rally

Sinar Daily

3 days ago

She pointed out that the reported alleged aggressive actions by certain police officers were not sanctioned orders but appeared to be independent actions.
Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz
SHAH ALAM - Muda acting president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz has called for independent investigations and disciplinary actions in response to allegations of excessive force used by authorities during the recent Himpunan Aman Rakyat 2.0 protest.
Amira emphasised that the right to peaceful assembly is enshrined in Malaysia's Federal Constitution and must be upheld by all entities, including the government and law enforcement agencies. The anti-corruption protest, held last Saturday, took a contentious turn after a student activist was allegedly manhandled and arrested without clear justification.
"I must stress that the right to peacefully assemble is a constitutional right.
"This right should not be encroached upon by anyone, be it the current government, the police, or any other body claiming to act against peaceful assembly.
"The aggression towards student activists at Himpunan 2.0 is utterly unacceptable," she told Sinar Daily when met at Karangkraf headquarters.
Amira further stressed the need for accountability regarding the incident.
She pointed out that the reported alleged aggressive actions by certain police officers were not sanctioned orders but appeared to be independent actions.
"There needs to be an independent investigation into the officer involved.
Disciplinary action must be taken to demonstrate that the government is serious about upholding the people's right to assemble.
"This also serves as a warning to other officers that such aggression will not be tolerated under Malaysian law," she added.
Drawing from her extensive experience participating in protests, Amira expressed concern over the persistent targeting of peaceful assemblies in Malaysia.
"Ever since I started my journey as a student activist, I've joined multiple protests. This is a right enshrined in our Federal Constitution, yet organisers and attendees of peaceful assemblies are often questioned, detained or threatened by authorities," she said.
Amira added that in the past, student activists were even threatened by their universities, creating a culture of fear that stifiles the exercise of constitutional rights.
Amira also praised the Federal Court's recent decision declaring Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act unconstitutional.
She described the ruling as a major victory for Malaysians and urged for its principles to be implemented at all levels, including enforcement.
"This decision is a huge win for Malaysians. This is something that we should ensure is upheld not just at the court but also at the enforcement level," she said.
The anti-corruption protest, held last Saturday, took a contentious turn after a student activist was allegedly manhandled and arrested without clear justification.
The incident has drawn criticism from activists and rights groups, who say it reflects a troubling pattern of intimidation and abuse of power within Malaysia's enforcement agencies.
These allegations stand in contrast to police statements claiming that their actions during the rally were fair and justified, further stoking public concern.