Janji Demokrasi organiser: Police questions irrelevant

 

Janji Demokrasi rally organiser Maria Chin Abdullah described the questions posed by the police to her and another key leader A Samad Said during today's interview as "irrelevant".

"They only asked questions about the press conference held at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (on Aug 24)," she said.

She and Samad therefore took the stand of not answering any question, Maria (left) told the media after coming out of the police station.

Police had summoned the duo to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters this afternoon to give their statements in relation to the controversial incidents that took place during the Merdeka eve rally at Dataran Merdeka.

 "The questions they want to know about the press conference were: who were there, what was my role during the press conference and what was my role at Dataran Merdeka.

"Who were there and what was the purpose of organising the rally,"  said Maria.

Tag didn't fit person 

She was represented by lawyer Latheefa Koya while Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson S Ambiga and lawyer Syahredzan Johan represented Samad, who is also co-chairperson of the election reform coalition.

The interview lasted some 40 minutes with 25 questions raised.
Samad (centre in photo) said the police notice sent to him yesterday had been cancelled as he was not the rally organiser but simply invited to recite a poem at the event.

"I was summoned based on irrelevant issues. The notice had been withdrawn.
"Several routine questions were asked, but I chose not to answer any of them except those related to my personal information.

"There was no question asked about the poem as far as I can remember," said the national laureate.
 Elaborating further, Ambiga explained that Samad had his statement recorded today as witness under Section 110 of the Penal Code.

Yesterday's notice was issued under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2011 and had described Samad as organiser, she added.

While the duo was having their statements recorded, some 20 activists from NGOs waited outside the police station in a show of support.