KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 - The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih) took to task the Selangor Police Chief Deputy Commissioner Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar over his “uncalled for remarks” equating participants at Sunday’s vigil to “criminals”.
It said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar should also take responsibility for the police chief’s comments and suspend him from his duties immediately.
Subang MP R. Sivarasa who acted as spokesman for the group quoted Khalid as having said yesterday: “What would happen if every criminal that we confront starts singing the national anthem?”
“That is inappropriate for a senior ranking officer to make. It is not proper for him to equate the participants at a peaceful gathering with criminals,” Sivarasa said.
He told reporters in Parliament that Khalid’s comment was also tantamount to admitting that the police had moved to arrest the participants in the rally organised by Bersih while they were standing at attention singing the “Negaraku”.
The police had previously denied having arrested anyone while the national anthem was being sung.
“We ask for such statements to be stopped immediately and for the police to change their attitude,” the lawyer said.
“We ask the police to understand properly the people’s right to a peaceful assembly in a public place,” he added. -- TMI
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