Sixty-nine arrests made by Perak police

IPOH, May 7 — Perak CPO Deputy Comm Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah tonight confirmed that the police had made a total of 69 arrests here today as part of security operations in connection with the Perak state assembly sitting.

“I am generally satisfied with the people of Perak who have listened to the advice from the police to not attend gatherings.

“This could be seen with the small number of those arrested. I believe that it is the desire of the people of Perak who want peace and tranquility,” he said.

Zulkifli told reporters that 54 people were arrested under section 188 of the penal code for disobeying a court order from the Ipoh magistrate’s court.

One person was arrested for selling published materials which deemed seditious.

Another 14 were arrested for attending a gathering without a permit.

“As of now, the police have given bail to 54 people which leaves 15 that are still in the process of their statements being recorded. Those who have been released, we have given them bail for one month,” he added.

Of the total 69 arrests, five are members of parliament and another five are state assemblymen. The members of parliament are Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin (PKR), Parit Buntar MP Muhajid Yusof (PAS), Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub and Sg. Siput MP Dr. Michael Jeyakumar (PKR).

The arrested assemblymen were Tg Batu assemblyman Tian Chua (PKR), Teratai assemblyman Jenice Lee (DAP), Temiang assemblyman Ng Chen Sai (DAP), Sg. Pinang assemblyman Koid Teng Guan (DAP) and Air Kroh assemblyman Koh Poay Ting (DAP).

All nine have been released on bail for one month except for Tian Chua whose statement is still being processed.

Zulkifli also defended the police for removing V. Sivakumar from the state assembly as it was requested by the new speaker Datuk R. Ganesan.

“The request was made because the speaker found that he could no longer control the situation. The police were asked to help and it is our responsibility to help maintain order in the assembly. So what we did was to help remove the person who had been ordered by the speaker to leave,” he explained.