Mat Sabu & Syed Saddiq against arrests of peaceful protesters on Malaysia Day in Sabah

Composite photo of police arresting students who protested for Sabahan issues in Kota Kinabalu on Malaysia Day Sept 16. - Photo via Mariah Salahudin / Facebook

KOTA KINABALU: Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu says there was no reason to detain activists for staging a protest at Gaya Street in Kota Kinabalu on Sunday (Sept 15) as such protests were a normal part of democracy.

The Parti Amanah Negara president better known as Mat Sabu, who is in town for the national level Malaysia Day celebrations, said there was no problem as the protesters did not take up arms.

"That (protests) is a normal thing for a democratic nation.

"I was also detained tens of times. It's normal, it's not a big issue.

"The activists didn't take up arms so there is no problem," Mat Sabu told reporters here on Sunday (Sept 16) after paying a courtesy call on Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal at a hotel here.

Earlier on Sunday (Sept 16) morning, a crowd of about 100 joined the “Pandang Ke Sabah” rally, co-organised by several student groups.

Eight activists were detained and claimed to have been manhandled by police trying to disperse the crowd.

Sabah Parti Amanah Negara Youth chief Mohd Khairudin Daud was among the eight arrested.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Azis Jamman had given his word that the activists would be released by 7pm on Sunday, said Sabah Parti Amanah Negara chief Haris Alimudin.

"They are just being detained by the police to have their statements recorded," he said, adding that Mohd Khairudin will not be subject to disciplinary action by the party as he was merely practising the principle of democracy.

"Both sides did their jobs. One side practised democracy and the other did their job as the law enforcement," he said.

Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, who is also in town for the Malaysia Day celebrations, pledged his support for the eight activists.

"I just finished my townhall (meeting) with the Youths here. Am otw (on the way) to the police station to help them.

"In the new Malaysia, the right to peaceful protest should be safeguarded even if it’s against the ruling-gov (government) interest," he tweeted.

Sabah Bersih chairman Beverly Joeman said the peaceful assembly was aimed at raising awareness and to urge the government to look into and solve 10 issues affecting Sabah.

These include education, poverty, native land, citizenship, housing, security, environment and job opportunities, she said.

In the latest development, the eight arrested youths, including Sabah Amanah Youth chief Mohd Khairudin Daud, were all released at 5pm Sunday after police completed recording their statements.