MP and Jerit member held for obstructing cops - Star

KUALA KANGSAR: Dec 9, 2008 By CLARA CHOOI

Sungai Siput MP Dr D. Jeyakumar, his wife and three others were arrested after they allegedly stopped police from boarding a bus carrying participants of a cycling expedition by Jerit ( Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas or the Marginalised People’s Network).

The “People Cycling For Change” expedition started in Alor Star on Dec 3 and is scheduled to end at Parliament House on Dec 18. There were 45 passengers on the bus, all aged 13 and above.

Kuala Kangsar OCPD Supt Abdul Gaffar Muhamad said police stopped the school bus during a routine roadblock 50m after the Kuala Kangsar toll plaza at about noon on Tuesday.

He said police wanted to check the identities of those in the bus as it was not carrying schoolchildren.

“We check anyone at the roadblock,” he said, adding that the police were not aware that the bus was a part of the Jerit expedition.

He said Dr Jeyakumar and the others stopped policemen who tried to board the bus.

“They did not want us to board the bus and insisted that we let them through.

“We told them we would escort them to the police station instead to record their statements,” he told reporters. The five, including Dr Jeyakumar’s wife R. Mohanarani, Jerit coordinators M. Sugumaran, R. Karthigesu and P. Jody, were arrested for obstructing public servants from carrying out their duties.

They were released on police bail at 7pm after their statements were recorded. The other passengers were released earlier at about 1.30pm.

The expedition is campaigning for the protection of workers during the financial crisis, the abolition of the ISA, comfortable housing for the people, proper control on the price of goods, an end to the privatisation of basic facilities and the restoration of local council elections.