Matthew Bugher, the NGO’s head of Asia Programme, said there was no need for such home visits as the protesters were willing to cooperate.

Furthermore, in the context of the pandemic and Malaysia’s lockdown, the house visits were not only harassment but also “an infringement on individuals’ sense of safety and security,” he added.

“The police should stop wasting the protesters’ time and their own resources. The home visits are pointless and arbitrary additions to an investigation that should never have been launched,” Bugher said in a statement.

He added that such actions were a further stain on Malaysia’s human rights record.

Yesterday, activists who attended the #Lawan protest on Saturday claimed their family members were intimidated by police.

Organiser Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR) said police officers went to the activists’ homes and questioned their parents, adding it was a gross violation of their families’ privacy.

They also called on police to stop intimidating those who were merely exercising their right to voice their dissatisfaction against the government.

Eleven activists were called in by police on Monday to facilitate investigations under Regulation 17(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Infected Local Areas) (National Recovery Plan) Regulations 2021 and Section 21 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act.

On Saturday, hundreds of protesters clad in black gathered outside Masjid Jamek and attempted to march to Dataran Merdeka. Police, however, cordoned off roads leading to the square.