KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 — Two opposition lawmakers were among 25 people charged today with ignoring a police order to disperse at a recent protest against the Goods and Services Tax (GST) at a Customs Department office.
Socialist Party of Malaysia’s Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj and Kuala Krai MP Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli from PAS were among those charged under Section 21(1)(d) of the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012 at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court today.
“The prosecution is saying that these people trespassed the Customs office, so that is why the police made the order for dispersal and these people failed to comply with that order, hence committing an offence under Section 21(1)(d) of PAA,” Joshua Tay, a lawyer defending the group, told Malay Mail Online.
Dozens of people demonstrated against the GST, which is set to come into effect at a flat rate of six per cent next Wednesday, at the Wilayah Persekutuan Customs Complex in Kelana Jaya Monday.
PSM has said the broad based consumption tax will burden the poor.
Bail for the case was set at RM3,000 with one surety each and May 14 was set as the mention date.
If convicted, they face a maximum fine of RM20,000.
PSM secretary-general S. Arutchelvan, as well as activists Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, and Muhammad Safwan Anang were among the 25 charged, said Tay, who is a member of the group’s defence team comprising 10 other lawyers.
