Stop Intimidating Undi18 Protestors Bersih Tells Cops

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Police should stop "intimidating" participants of a gathering last weekend which protested the government's decision to postpone the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18, said electoral reform group Bersih.
This is after police said it would investigate 11 rally participants under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act for failing to provide a 10-day notice before a gathering and Regulation 11 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Infected Local Areas) (Conditional MCO) (No. 4) Regulations 2021.
"Bersih calls on the Royal Malaysian Police to stop the intimidation and pressure on youth activists who gathered at the Himpunan Tuntut Undi 18 on March 27.
"The Royal Malaysian police must respect the people's freedom to express their demands, more so for the demand that the government respect the decision of the Parliament on the implementation of Undi18," it said.
Bersih also emphasised the need to respect Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of speech and peaceful assembly.
"Such acts of intimidation are a waste of police time and resources that are better channelled towards fighting crimes that are more dangerous to the safety of the people and the country," they said.
Among those who have been summoned include opposition leaders who were present during the protest outside Parliament.

Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh
Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh, in a statement, said she had heard about the protest which took place in her constituency.
"I have voted in favour of Undi18 in 2019 in Parliament. As a responsible MP, I went on my own to Parliament on Saturday to see what was happening in my constituency, which has received huge coverage in the news.
"When I arrived, the young people were about to disperse.
"It is my opinion that consistent with the debate in Parliament in favour of Undi18, if an 18-year-old is old enough to drive or to marry, he/she should not be denied his/her right to vote," she said.
Yeoh said young protesters had nowhere else to complain except at Parliament but noted that the legislature had been suspended under the emergency proclamation.
"I hope the police will understand that these young people came in peace and dispersed in peace, wearing masks and obeyed the instruction of the police.
"I will cooperate with the police if they call me in, and I will tell them what I saw and what I stand for," she said. Yeoh said police have yet to contact her.
Meanwhile, Pakatan Harapan Youth chief Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin said an officer from the Dang Wangi district police quarters has asked to record his statement at 2.30pm tomorrow. - Mkini

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