Deputy Chief of PSM Detained Following Altercation near Parliament
In a controversial turn of events, S. Arutchelvan, a prominent human rights activist, was arrested in Kuala Lumpur, sparking widespread criticism as a violation of human rights and an abuse of police power. The incident occurred during a rally by plantation workers outside Parliament, where Arutchelvan was investigated under Section 353 of the Penal Code for allegedly using criminal force to deter a public servant.
The arrest has been met with strong condemnation from human rights groups including Amnesty International Malaysia and Article 19. They view the incident as an act of intimidation against human rights defenders and have called for the immediate and unconditional release of Arutchelvan, emphasizing that protesting for rights must never be criminalized.
The plantation workers, numbering over 100 from various states, had marched from Taman Tugu to Parliament to submit a memorandum on housing and a draft bill making it compulsory for estates to provide homes for local plantation workers. However, the event was met with resistance from the police, who initially blocked the group from gathering at Parliament's gates.
The commotion during the submission of the memorandum and the draft bill led to an investigation by the Kuala Lumpur police chief, Fadil Marsus. A video on TikTok showing participants of the gathering "provoking and forcefully breaching" police officers during an event at Jalan Parlimen has been cited as evidence.
Arutchelvan and rally participants, however, claim they were the victims of police rough treatment and that they did not initiate violence. M Sivaranjani, the secretary-general of PSM, described Arutchelvan's arrest as unlawful and an abuse of police power. The groups have issued a joint statement expressing their concerns, calling for an end to the crackdown on human rights defenders and peaceful protesters, and urging the government to immediately and unconditionally release Arutchelvan and drop the investigation against him.
The groups also called for a proper investigation into reports on the alleged use of unnecessary force by the police. They stress the need for Malaysia’s government and law enforcement agencies to respect peaceful protests and reexamine laws restricting freedom of expression, and to train police officers not to use excessive force against demonstrators, referencing this case as illustrative of ongoing systemic problems.
Until intimidation and arbitrary arrests stop, Malaysia's civic space will remain under serious threat, according to the groups. They view Arutchelvan's arrest as yet another blatant act of intimidation against human rights defenders and an impediment to Arutchelvan's right to peacefully assemble.
