MPs to be called up over protest

Anwar marching with the Opposition MPs towards the Parliament building from Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur. -— IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: All individuals, including MPs, involved in the rally near Dataran Merdeka will be called up, says the Kuala Lumpur police chief.

Comm Datuk Azmi Abu Kassim said police would record the statements of all those involved.

“We received information that there would be a gathering on Parliament grounds, but we were informed that Parliament was not in session.

“Thus, we cordoned off and diverted the roads leading to Parliament as no one was allowed to enter Parliament grounds,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Asked whether those involved would be issued compound notices for being involved in the rally, Comm Azmi said police will investigate and the investigation paper will be referred to the deputy public prosecutor for further action.

“So far, we already received two police reports on the rally,” he said, adding that more than 500 police personnel and officers were on duty.

“In the end, the matter was resolved peacefully and the crowd eventually dispersed,” he said.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and a group of lawmakers were stopped by the police from marching towards Parliament.

The group had earlier gathered at Dataran Merdeka after the road leading to Parliament was blocked.

The Opposition lawmakers then tried to march on foot to Parliament but were stopped by police.

Anwar tried to negotiate with police to allow them to go to Parliament, and made a short speech before the group dispersed at 11am.On another matter, Comm Azmi said police were looking for 47 individuals involved in the “Keluar dan #Lawan” rally, based on video footage and photos of the protest.

He said police were in the midst of identifying these individuals.

“So far, we have recorded statements from 11 individuals. We already received 19 police reports on the rally,” he added.

In George Town, Persatuan Kebajikan Surplus Pulau Pinang chairman Sophian Mohd Zain said stern action should be taken against the MPs who marched.

He claimed the MPs had acted irresponsibly by gathering during Phase One of the National Recovery Plan, which was against the ruling set by the government.

“As MPs, they should have known that organising a protest would violate the law under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Act 342),” he said.

Sophian had lodged a police report against the Opposition MPs, claiming the gathering would put the country and public at risk.

He urged the police and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin to investigate those involved and to take appropriate action.