Use of Section 353 in probe against PSM No 2 ‘troubling’, says Suaram
PETALING JAYA: Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has condemned the use of Section 353 of the Penal Code in the probe against Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) deputy chairman S Arutchelvan over a peaceful assembly outside Parliament on Aug 13.
Suaram executive director Azura Nasron said invoking Section 353 for using criminal force to deter a public servant from carrying out their duties was grossly disproportionate as police had blocked the workers from approaching Parliament.
Calling it a troubling escalation, she said it was a serious departure from previous protest-related probes, which were usually conducted under Section 186 for obstruction.
It is shifting blame onto citizens exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly, while failing to hold police accountable for their failure to facilitate the protest effectively.
Public assemblies outside Parliament predate the Peaceful Assembly Act and are part of Malaysias democratic tradition.
But since 2020, police have…
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