Yesterday’s fracas in Shah Alam was unfortunate. But then, who ultimately is responsible?
We have laws governing public gatherings. The organisers must provide advanced notice to the police. No one can take the law into his own hands unless for self-defence.
The police force is the foremost public safety and enforcement agency in the country. In any altercation, the police should be the most appropriate impartial party.
When there are shoes, chairs and lighted flares thrown at a gathering, to what extent can the organiser handle such a situation? To what extent can the organisers contain or fight off the intrusions?
Would they be accused of taking the law into their own hands if the organisers acted aggressively towards the troublemakers?
It is the right of the police to find out more from the organisers on the threats received or the security measures taken prior to the gathering. But ultimately, it is the job of the police to ensure public safety.
I am not a lawyer, so I would not know the full implications of the “disturbance” which occurred yesterday.
Is it a grave offence to throw objects and lighted flares in a crowded and confined space?
Is it reasonable to assume that the organisers were able to foresee such grave provocations?
Is it reasonable to assume that the organisers and those at the gathering were able to react “properly” and “rationally” when the attacks took place?
I hope the police will investigate the initiators of this incident first, not whether sufficient safety measures were put in place by the organisers earlier, or the subsequent reactions of those at the gathering after the attack.
TK Chua is an FMT reader.
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