Stop Abusing Police Powers Towards Human Rights Defenders

*The Malay translation of this statement is available below, following the English version.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) strongly condemns the arrest of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) Deputy Chairperson S. Arutchelvan (“Arul”) under Sections 353 and 427 of the Penal Code. This arrest amounts to a clear abuse of police powers and process and reflects a longstanding pattern of intimidation against activists for exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly. 

Arul had already fully cooperated with the police, having presented himself at IPD Dang Wangi last Thursday (14 August) for questioning. The arrest was thus wholly disproportionate, as there are no justifiable grounds to believe that Arul would not comply with any further police summons. Moreover, there is no basis to continue the investigation, when publicly available footage of the 13 August assembly shows no use of criminal force, and when the police themselves imposed unnecessary restrictions that obstructed protesters from submitting the proposed Estate Workers Housing Scheme Act directly to lawmakers outside the Parliament gates.

Arul’s arrest marks at least the third case this year in which activists have been arrested for exercising the constitutional right to peacefully assemble – following the arrests of SUARAM’s former Executive Director Sevan Doraisamy in February under the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act, as well as of Fadhil Kasim, Aliff Danial and Sabir Syarifuddin in June under the Sedition Act. These incidents form part of an alarming trend where outdated and draconian laws are repeatedly weaponised to silence dissent, stifle legitimate advocacy, and instill fear among those who speak truth to power. It is deeply concerning that the Madani government continues to repeat the very repressive practices of past administrations, despite its promises of reform and commitment to democratic values.

SUARAM calls for the immediate and unconditional release of S. Arutchelvan, and reiterates that investigations under Sections 353 and 427 of the Penal Code must be dropped without delay. We further urge the government and the police to respect the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, and to immediately end the cycle of arbitrary arrests and investigations against activists. 

In solidarity,

Azura Nasron

Executive Director at SUARAM

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HENTIKAN SALAH GUNA KUASA POLIS TERHADAP PEMBELA HAK ASASI MANUSIA

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) mengecam sekeras-kerasnya penahanan Timbalan Pengerusi Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), S. Arutchelvan (“Arul”), di bawah Seksyen 353 dan 427 Kanun Keseksaan. Penahanan ini merupakan satu penyalahgunaan kuasa serta proses polis yang jelas mencerminkan pola intimidasi berpanjangan terhadap aktivis yang melaksanakan hak perlembagaan mereka untuk berhimpun secara aman.

Arul telah memberikan kerjasama sepenuhnya kepada pihak polis dengan menghadirkan diri ke IPD Dang Wangi pada Khamis lalu (14 Ogos) untuk disoal siasat. Justeru, penahanan tersebut adalah sama sekali tidak seimbang kerana tiada asas munasabah untuk mempercayai bahawa Arul tidak akan mematuhi sebarang arahan lanjut daripada polis. Tambahan pula, tiada asas untuk meneruskan siasatan apabila rakaman perhimpunan pada 13 Ogos menunjukkan tiada sebarang penggunaan kekerasan jenayah, sedangkan pihak polis sendiri telah mengenakan sekatan tidak wajar yang menghalang peserta protes daripada menyerahkan cadangan Rang Undang-Undang Skim Perumahan Pekerja Estet secara langsung kepada Ahli Parlimen di pintu pagar Parlimen.

Penahanan Arul menandakan sekurang-kurangnya kes ketiga tahun ini di mana aktivis ditahan kerana melaksanakan hak perlembagaan mereka untuk berhimpun secara aman – selepas penahanan bekas Pengarah Eksekutif SUARAM, Sevan Doraisamy, pada Februari di bawah Akta Kawasan Larangan dan Tempat Larangan, serta penahanan Fadhil Kasim, Aliff Danial dan Sabir Syarifuddin pada Jun di bawah Akta Hasutan. Insiden-insiden ini adalah sebahagian daripada trend membimbangkan di mana undang-undang lama yang zalim terus digunakan sebagai senjata untuk membungkam bantahan, mengekang advokasi yang sah, dan menanam rasa takut terhadap mereka yang bersuara menegur kuasa. Adalah amat membimbangkan bahawa kerajaan Madani masih mengulangi amalan represif pentadbiran terdahulu, meskipun berjanji untuk melaksanakan reformasi dan menegakkan nilai-nilai demokrasi.

SUARAM menggesa pembebasan segera dan tanpa syarat terhadap S. Arutchelvan, serta menegaskan bahawa siasatan di bawah Seksyen 353 dan 427 Kanun Keseksaan mesti dihentikan serta-merta. Kami turut menggesa kerajaan dan pihak polis agar menghormati hak perlembagaan untuk berhimpun secara aman, dan segera menghentikan kitaran penahanan serta siasatan sewenang-wenangnya terhadap aktivis.

Dalam solidariti,

Azura Nasron

Pengarah Eksekutif SUARAM