Cops seek more suspects over forum trouble
KOTA KINABALU: Police are looking for more suspects who were believed to have been involved in the fracas at the Nothing to Hide 2.0 forum in Shah Alam recently.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said they had arrested 13 people so far.
“We are searching for a few more people,” he said, during an official visit to the Sabah police contingent here.
Khalid said the actions of the sus- pects, including hurling chairs, throwing and burning things, amounted to rioting.
He said investigations were under way and if there was evidence to charge the suspects, the cases would be forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Khalid said they would investigate claims that the culprits were paid to cause trouble at the forum.
“People can make claims, but let us investigate,” he said.
Khalid said the organisers of the forum should also be held responsible because under the Peaceful Assembly Act, it was their duty to ensure their programme ran smoothly.
He added that police personnel were standing guard outside the hall at that time and did their job.
On a separate issue, Khalid warned Muslims and Malays that they faced being charged under syariah law if they attended events organised by atheist groups.
Under Malaysian law, he said, it was not their right to attend or become members of such groups.
Khalid had on Wednesday warned these groups not to hold programmes that could upset Muslims.
The Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) was also reported to be investigating Muslims attending the gathering organised by the Kuala Lumpur Atheist Republic Club after an image of their event went viral on social media.
On Aug 8, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim urged muftis and state governments to take action against atheist groups in the country.