Flash mob fizzles out after arrests
(The Star) – A gathering of a “flash mob” near the Sogo shopping complex at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman here was short-lived after 15 of them were arrested barely an hour after it began.
However, they were released six hours later.
Among those picked up during the incident at 2.50pm yesterday were Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia propaganda director Edy Noor Reduan and a 10-year-old boy.
Dang Wang OCPD Asst Comm Zainuddin Ahmad said that the participants were arrested for disrupting the peace.
“We had warned them to disperse but they refused to do so,” he added. He criticised the participants for bringing children to the gathering.
Earlier, the flash mob consisting of members of SAMM and several NGOs gathered outside Sogo to urge people to join the June 22 rally to be held at Padang Merbok.
Edy Noor said that the participants only want to express the people’s dissatisfaction over the 13th general election result.
“We have the right to protest. We do not want to cause trouble,” he said before he was arrested.
Later, other participants went to the Dang Wangi police station to show support for the arrested group, who were held there.
Among those seen at the police station were student activist Adam Adli.
In a statement, Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang criticised the police for concentrating on arresting people who are carrying out a peaceful protest rather than fighting crime.
In Putrajaya, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin said that the organisers of the Black 505 rallies would face action if they continued with their plan without seeking proper permits.
“We already have laws and will enforce those laws.
“We will look at the situation. If the need arises, we will take action,” he said during the Putra Intelek International College convocation ceremony held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre yesterday.
It was reported that the Opposition would go ahead with its rally at Padang Merbok even if it did not get the go-ahead from Kuala Lumpur City Hall.
PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli had said that Pakatan Rakyat had insisted on holding the rally at Padang Merbok despite DBKL wanting them to hold it in a stadium.
