KOTA KINABALU: The organisers of last year’s Bangkit Sabahan peaceful assembly believe they will be hauled up by the police and brought to court, says their adviser Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar.
“I received information that Sabah police will be taking action against the organisers, including myself, because I was also part of the rally on Dec 31,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Feb 19).
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He said if this were true, it would be tantamount to the police "disobeying the instructions of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim" who had previously called for investigations to be dropped against university students involved in the "Himpunan Rakyat Benci Rasuah" (People Hate Corruption rally) on the same day.
Zulkarnain, who leads the Gerakan Kuasa Rakyat Malaysia (G57) activist group, said they would fight the matter in court, and would not back down in their mission to defend the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-Pakatan Harapan state government from defamation.
He said the Bangkit Sabahan rally was organised after the students announced the peaceful assembly against corruption on the same day.
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He said those who insult the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah (TYT), such as artist-activist Fahmi Reza, should be the ones facing legal repercussions.
“G57 will be sending an objection to the Prime Minister and King to ask for their intervention in this matter,” added Zulkarnain.
The Star is reaching out to Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun and Kota Kinabalu OCPD Asst Comm Kasim Muda for comment.
Dec 31 saw two rallies held simultaneously.
The Bangkit Sabahan rally was held to back Hajiji's government and support the appointment of Tun Musa Aman as Yang di-Pertua Negeri.
Himpunan Rakyat Benci Rasuah called for Hajiji and Musa to step down, among other demands.
Musa took the oath of office as the 11th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah on Jan 1.
