Malaysian government warns NGO forum
Malaysian government warns NGO forum
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The Malaysian government Saturday asked a coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to cancel a forum on alleged abuse of police power, warning they would be arrested if they failed to comply.
The organizers could be detained under the country's powerful Internal Security Act (ISA) as the forum would endanger public and national security, Deputy Home Minister Megat Junid Megat Ayob warned.
The ISA provides for indefinite detention without trial.
"Those who are unhappy with the conduct of the police should forward their complaints through the proper channels to the government or produce proof in the courts," Megat Junid was reported saying by Bernama news agency.
The one-day forum -- People's tribunal on the abuse of police power -- scheduled to be held on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, was deemed illegal as it had not been approved by the police, Megat Junid added.
The organizers of the tribunal include a coalition of nine NGOs including the Bar Council, Center for Orang Asli (indigenous) Concern and the Community Development Center.
In an immediate reaction, a spokesman of the organizers, Elizabeth Wong said the organizers would meet to decide whether to go ahead with the tribunal.
It was not a requirement for the organizers to obtain a police permit as the tribunal was a "private event, opened only to invited participants," Wong told AFP.
"We have even invited a representative from the police disciplinary section to attend," she said.
About 150 people representing squatters, estate workers, the indigenous people, foreign workers and women's groups are expected to participate, Wong added.
The NGOs created an uproar last month when they defied a ban on a conference on East Timor.
A total of 106 people were detained on Nov. 9 after the meeting was disrupted by a mob of some 300 men led by the youth wing of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's ruling party.
Malaysia, which drew widespread condemnation for its handling of the conference, had banned the meeting to protect its ties with Indonesia.
The former Portuguese colony of East Timor was integrated into Indonesia in 1976.