“Didn’t get our OK”: Cops probe pro-Najib gathering outside palace
THE Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) is investigating yesterday’s (Aug 24) gathering by supporters of Datuk Seri Najib Razak outside the National Palace where they demanded a royal pardon for the since-jailed former prime minister.
The police did not mention under which law the 300-people strong rally was being investigated, although it is likely Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 for not notifying the police over the holding of a public assembly.
In a statement, Brickfields district police headquarters chief ACP Amihizam Abdul Shukor said the organisers of the 2pm rally did not send in an application to his station to have the rally, which comes under their purview.
The rally, held in the car park outside the National Palace’s Gate 3 on Jalan Sultan Abdul Halim, Kuala Lumpur, saw the Pertubuhan Jalinan Perpaduan Negara Malaysia (PJPNM) sending a memorandum to the palace and mostly black-clad attendees shouting “Hidup Najib” and “Bossku“.
Amihizam added that a team of police officers from the Brickfields district headquarters and the Travers police station were tasked to control the crowd and public safety, besides monitoring the rally.
“The Brickfields police advise the public to always be vigilant towards acts or speeches that may threaten public safety in this country, especially in Kuala Lumpur,” he said.
“The police also urges the public not to gather or hold assemblies without (getting) valid permission first.”
“Royal intervention sought”
Those who attended yesterday’s rally, made up of motorcycle-riding youths and UMNO supporters, sought royal intervention after Najib was incarcerated the day earlier (Aug 23) over his SRC International RM42 mil corruption case.
PJPNM president Syed Muhammad Imran Syed Abdul Aziz also called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to give a letter to this effect to Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
He further called on UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to “order” the prime minister and the party vice-president to act immediately on the matter, Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported.
Failing to do so, Syed Muhammad Imran said UMNO should withdraw its support for the Government and prepare for a general election.
He added that he would leave the party and “might as work with DAP” because “they help when their leaders are imprisoned” since UMNO only “shows its power on social media”, FMT reported.
On Tuesday, the Federal Court rejected Najib’s final appeal in his SRC International corruption case and upheld his seven charges of power abuse, criminal breach of trust and money laundering, RM210 mil fine and 12-year jail sentence.
Najib, his supporters and UMNO leaders are up in arms over supposed “new evidence” not being entertained pertaining to an alleged “conflict of interest” of the trial judge hearing the case and the “impartiality” of the chief justice, who heard his final appeal. – FocusM, Aug 25, 2022
Main pic credit: AP