MCA wants apology over arrest of lawyers

PETALING JAYA: MCA has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to take action against the OCPD who authorised the arrest of five lawyers and other supporters of Wong Chin Huat last week.

Education Bureau chairman Gan Ping Sieu said peaceful assemblies should be respected and not handled in a high-handed manner, or treated as a threat against the police.

He also said an apology from the police must be offered in order to restore the public’s confidence in them.

“Without any imminent physical threat, the dispersion order and forcible manner of arrest would be construed as an abuse of police power,” said Gan.

He added the lawyers were entitled to free access to their clients in custody.

“Without any reasonable grounds that they (lawyers) were aiding the detainees in any alleged criminal activities, their arrest is unlawful and a blatant disregard of the law,” he said.

Police arrested 20 people who held a candlelight vigil for Wong for allegedly being an obstruction to justice and for failing to disperse.

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