Cops: Only those wearing yellow to promote event detained
(The Star) – Police have only arrested people wearing yellow to promote the July 9 rally, said Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin.
Refuting allegations that the police were arresting anyone wearing yellow, he said the arrests were all linked to the rally.
He said police would not arrest people for being in yellow clothes but would take stern action against anyone found wearing them as a way to promote the rally.
He explained that there had been much confusion due to certain quarters insinuating that the police were arresting anyone wearing yellow.
Seized: Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed showing a photo of former Communist leader Shamsiah Fakeh and t-shirts taken from a house in Section 4, Petaling Jaya, on Wednesday. “There have even been mischievous suggestions that the police should arrest members of the royal family and tourists for wearing yellow clothes,” he said.
Comm Mohd Bakri stressed that the arrests and seizures made so far had no connection to the colour.
“The arrests and seizures of materials are related to the planned illegal rallies. We have clearly stated that no permit will be issued to any organisation to hold a rally on that day,” he said.
He also said the public had been misinformed of their rights to freedom of speech as well as the right to hold an assembly.
The organisers of the rally, many of whom were of legal background, had failed to mention the clauses linked to Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which spelled out certain restrictions to these rights, he said.
“This has perplexed us as this misinformation could be a threat to national security if the rallies were to take place,” he said.
He added that police had spoken to the organisers and advised them to call off the rallies or at least hold them in venues that would not pose a threat to security and public order.
“Despite our advice and mounting public pressure to call off the rallies, they have chosen to proceed.
“This leaves us no choice but to act under the laws passed by Parliament to prevent these illegal gatherings from taking place,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk S. Ambiga had a 30-minute meeting with Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar to discuss an alternative route for the rally.
Ambiga said another route was needed in order to avoid confrontation with any other group, adding that Ismail was silent on the suggestion.
Ambiga also mentioned to Ismail that the rally was within the rights of Malaysians to participate in a peaceful gathering and that they were not doing anything illegal.
