Also expressing shock with the police’s action, coming less than 24 hours after the event, was MUDA, which claimed this was a clear case of double standards compared to action against ministers and other VIPs.
One of the protesters, Mohammad Alshatri, said they were questioned for three hours from 9am today at the Dang Wangi police station here.
“Immediately after questioning, they issued the compound fine of RM2,000.
“We were shocked to receive an immediate notice of fine as this was not the case with VIPs who openly flouted the Covid-19 SOPs.
“When it comes to them, the police will say they will investigate and it will take weeks or months for the compound notices to be issued,” he told FMT.
Mohammad said they will talk to their lawyers first before deciding whether to challenge the compound fine notices in court. The other two called in for today’s questioning were Mohd Asraf and Taufiq Azhar.
Mohammad further said the members who turned up at the Dataran Merdeka yesterday followed physical distancing, wore double masks and protective clothing such as overalls, to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“We followed all the SOPs,” he added.
Police had said a group of about 20 youths had gathered at Dataran Merdeka to protest against the Perikatan National (PN) government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Around 40 people were seen waving 14 black flags and carrying a banner with the hashtag #KeluarDanLawan (Come out and fight), while standing in front of several fake “bodies”.
A representative of Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat, the organiser of the event, said the protest went on for 40 minutes.
Police arrived as the protesters were in the middle of reading out their statement, after which they dispersed peacefully.
In a statement later, MUDA noted that the protesters were fined RM2,000 each less than 24 hours after the event.
The party said it took weeks for police to penalise the Kedah menteri besar for a test drive he took during the movement control order. It further said federal territories minister Annuar Musa’s case was referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers while another group of politicians got off free despite holding a durian party during the lockdown.
MUDA also voiced support for the protester’s demands, which were for the prime minister to resign, a full parliamentary session to take place, and an automatic loan moratorium to be given to all.
Meanwhile, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) condemned the call for investigation and the compound fines against the activists and maintained that every citizen has the right to exercise freedom of expression and participate in a peaceful assembly even during the pandemic.
In a statement, it said the recent unprecedented spike in Covid-19 cases has clearly demonstrated that the government has failed in combating the pandemic strategically, adding that the activists had every reason to protest against the government.