Selangor Journal

Women march to Parliament demanding Maria’s release

BY: ERMIZI MUHAMAD
KUALA LUMPUR, NOV 23: A large group of women wearing Bersih 5 T-shirts marched on Parliament protesting the arrest of Bersih 2.0 Chairman Maria Chin Abdullah under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA).
Led by former Bar Council Chairman Datuk S Ambiga, they also submitted a memorandum of protest to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
They demanded the abolishment of SOSMA that they claim is being misused by certain parties.
The leaders present included KEADILAN Senator Siti Aishah Shaikh and BERSIH Global steering committee member Ivy Josiah.
On November 18, Maria was detained under SOSMA, which allows detention without trial for up to 28 days.
She is also investigated under Section 124 of the Penal Code for involvement in alleged activities that is detrimental to the parliamentary democracy.
KEADILAN Women Chief Zuraida Kamarudin questioned the recent crackdown on opposition leaders and activists.
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“There is no reasonable excuse to detain Maria even for a day. She is innocent and was arrested only because the government cannot tolerate the voice of the rakyat who are now speaking out on a daily basis.
“Does Maria look like a criminal or a thief who has embezzled billions in his private account?” she asked.
SOSMA received stiff resistance from Opposition Members of Parliament when it was tabled at Parliament in 2012.
The Opposition was worried that the act would be misused against parties who opposed or criticised the government in the future.

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