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CPO: Protesters abused sanctity of Negaraku |
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Posted by admin
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Tuesday, 11 November 2008 20:41 |
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Charles Ramendran and Maria J.Dass, The Sun Amid mounting protests over the handling of a gathering on Sunday in which two dozen people were detained, Selangor police chief DCP Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar today further explained the circumstances in which he acted.
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Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar
| He refuted claims that police were disrespectful to the national anthem when they moved in on participants of a candlelight vigil as the group was singing the Negaraku opposite the PJ Civic Centre.
He instead accused the protesters of abusing the sanctity of the Negaraku for making use of it to evade action.
"The members of the group sang the Negaraku about three or four times, each time police told them to disperse at the Jalan Timur field and at each place, they regrouped. They were using it to keep us at bay but we had acted within the law. How can I disrespect the Negaraku?
"I am an officer of the Royal Malaysian Police Force and I will be among the first to give honour to the national anthem. But in the best interest of security and order and to keep it in place, the police are empowered to evaluate the situation and act accordingly," said Khalid.
He explained that he did not hear the anthem being sung when his men moved in to disperse the crowd which had violated the law by taking part in an illegal assembly.
Earlier, a coalition of 12 NGOs issued a statement demanding for an apology from Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and the resignation of Khalid for the way police acted against the public and some politicians who took part in the rally to commemorate the first anniversary of the Bersih rally, and to protest against the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Bersih, a coalition set up to promulgate free and fair elections, said police demonstrated contempt against the nation and the king by arresting those singing Negaraku.
Suaram coordinator Tah Moon Hui said Bersih has proof that the police had moved in to arrest the people while the Negaraku was being sung.
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who was also at the press conference, said Dian Abdullah, a 53-year-old woman fell and injured the back of her head when police moved in to make arrests. She received four stitches for the cut.
Lawyer and blogger Haris Ibrahim said the Selangor government should back up Bersih’s struggle as this is what the people of Selangor had voted them in to do (to carry out reforms).
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