Cops Probing Women’s March Assembly In KL, Netizens Ask Why
The last time the Women’s March took place was in 2020.
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To march in solidarity with women, a total of 300 people from all walks of life gathered at Sogo KL on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman yesterday to take part in an annual march to commemorate Women’s Day.
The march, which was held for the first time since 2020, was allegedly overlooked by more than 30 police officers who were on duty keeping a close eye on the demonstrators, as reported by MalayMail.
Throughout the march, participants chanted for changes to Malaysian policy and laws such as equal pay, the end of child marriages, and social protection for “all oppressed genders”.
However, despite it being a peaceful march, it was later highlighted that the police has opened an investigation paper into the march.
In a statement, the Dang Wangi police said all identified individuals in the assembly will be called to record their statements to help investigations.
They say the assembly is being investigated under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and the Minor Offences Act.
The investigation paper will be completed and referred to the deputy public prosecutor for further instructions. The public is advised not to participate in any illegal assembly as action will be taken against them.
Dang Wangi district police chief, ACP Noor Dellhan Yahaya
The announcement has since gone viral and plenty of netizens have taken to social media to criticise the police for investigating what appears to be an innocent march.
Twitter users also called this an attempt to silence not just women but anyone who expresses their thoughts.
Women’s Aid Organisation deputy executive director Yu Ren Chung questioned the need for this investigation and gave his support for the organisers of the march.
Why the need to call in participants? In solidarity with @womensmarchmy #WomensMarchMY.
Women’s Aid Organisation deputy executive director Yu Ren Chung
On the other hand, daughter of tycoon Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, Datin Dian Lee Cheng Ling also questioned the need for an investigation to be carried out over a peaceful march.
Why are we still doing this? What is so threatening about a group of peaceful women coming together?
Daughter of tycoon Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, Datin Dian Lee Cheng Ling
Twitter user @AbinayaDhivya said:
This is a blatant muzzling of our Freedom of Expression! Is this what activists, women human rights defenders have to expect from the state moving forward?
@AbinayaDhivya via Twitter
Twitter user @fiqahdarisabah said:
Another day another attempt to silence us. This is why we need reform on the institutional level – policies change with each government but strengthened and equitable institutions remain. Even with a gomen madani (Madani government) led by ‘bapak reformasi’ (Father of Reformation) pun it’s same old same old.
@fiqahdarisabah via Twitter
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