AS expected, the police will be summoning participants of yesterday’s (Aug 14) peaceful protest against the Government’s alleged mishandling of the RM9 bil littoral combat ships (LCS) scandal.
Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Noor Dellhan Yahaya said 13 individuals will be summoned to give statements, adding that an investigation paper has been opened under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 for holding an assembly without notice.
“We determined that about 60 people, including members of non-government organisations (NGOs) and political parties as well as students (had attended the rally).
“Some have been identified so far, while some have not,” Noor Dellhan said in a statement yesterday evening.
Noor Dellhan also noted that about 100 police officers from the district police headquarters and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) were on site to manage the situation, as well as traffic.
He advised the public not to take part in any actions that violate the law, or risk having “stern action” taken against them.
The #ManaKapalLCS rally, held in the rain outside the SOGO shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, started at 2pm and ended one hour later.
According to media reports, no untoward incidents or arrests were reported.
As has been the case in recent protests, including the #LAWAN, #TangkapAzamBaki and #TURUN rallies, the police only took action after they ended, calling up its organisers and notable public figures who attended or were speakers.
Those who spoke at yesterday’s rally included youth leaders from DAP, PKR and the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA).
“Damning report”
The protest’s organisers want the Government to form a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the LCS scandal, following the release of a damning report by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the RM9 bil project.
The LCS project is the talk of the town after the PAC revealed that not a single ship had been completed – although the Government spent RM6 bil on the project so far and five ships should have been delivered by now.
The organisers also want Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to resign and for others responsible for the scandal to face the music.
Protesters yesterday had carried placards of the faces of former defence minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, as well as Hishammuddin.
Amid the blame game by the opposition and leaders from the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) Government, Hishammuddin has said his ministry will comply with all of the PAC’s recommendations for the project.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), meanwhile, has completed its investigation into the LCS scandal for alleged graft and recommended charges to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC). – Aug 15, 2022
Main pic credit: The Vibes
