Monday March 17, 2008
Illegal gathering dispersed
By CHRISTINA KOH
IPOH: An illegal gathering at the Ipoh Padang dispersed after the police gave its participants, claiming to be acting as individuals, 30 minutes to have their say and leave.
Shouting slogans, the group pledged their support for Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah, and his choice for the state’s new mentri besar.
Mior Azman Mior Aris, one of the group’s spokesmen, also condemned DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang who had spoken out against the ruler’s choice of state PAS secretary Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.
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Unlawful crowd: The protesters voicing their support for the Sultan and demanding an apology from Kit Siang at the Ipoh Padang on Sunday. |
“We demand that Lim Kit Siang apologise directly to the palace and the people of Perak, and not through the Internet or email,” said Mior Azman yesterday.
He was referring to Lim's earlier statement urging DAP assemblymen to stay away from the swearing-in ceremony of the mentri besar to protest the selection of a PAS mentri besar.
Lim later issued a public apology over the statement.
“We are not enemies of any race or group but this is our royal institution which we have long revered. We demand an apology,” Mior Azman said.
Another speaker was former Gerik MP Datuk Dr Wan Hashim Wan Teh, who reminded the new state government not to challenge Malay supremacy or the New Economic Policy.
”We are prepared to share with other races. They are our friends but I call upon the new government to protect the rights of the Malays,” he said.
The organisers had initially sent out SMSes urging people to gather at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Recreational Park (Polo Ground) here at 8am but then changed the venue to the Ipoh Padang.
Representatives later handed over a memorandum to the palace, voicing support for the Sultan of Perak and his choice for mentri besar.
Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Azisman Alias, who was among the 200 uniformed personnel on duty, told reporters that the gathering did not have a permit and was illegal.
“We are not arresting anyone for now. Since things are calm here, we are using our discretionary powers to let them have their say,” he said.
However, ACP Azisman said they would identify and take statements from the leaders of the assembly.
Scores of participants were seen hoisting banners with the words, “Don’t challenge Malay supremacy”, “We love stability” or “DAP jangan main dengan api (DAP don’t play with fire)”.
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