MPs disperse after face-off with riot police
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AFTER some two hours of speeches, a large gathering of opposition members of parliament in Kuala Lumpur was dispersed after the lawmarkers were barred by the FRU from marching to Parliament House.
The lawmakers ended their protest after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim declared that the “107 MPs” present “have made their point”.
“The (Dewan Rakyat) speaker has gone back on his promise and has failed to conduct his duties. He is most dishonourable in this manner, to protect the prime minister who has lost his legitimacy,” Anwar said in a speech at Dataran Merdeka.
The MPs had gathered on the field where the opposition leadership had delivered rousing speeches preparatory to a march to Parliament.
Afterwards the group had walked towards the House, bearing the banner “Mahiaddin and cabinet resign” and singing and chanting “Reformasi” .
At the entrance of the road leading to Parliament, they were met by a wall of FRU officers.
The officers told Anwar the group should disperse and the opposition leader agreed to call off the march.
Earlier this morning, the opposition MPs were prevented from entering Parliament and threatened with arrest by police manning roadblocks.
Police started blocking several of them from going to the Parliament building at the road in front of the Bank Rakyat building.
The Federal Reserve Unit, usually used to handle riots, was deployed in front of the Bank Rakyat and put on standby for any trouble.
Among those told not to proceed were DAP Jelutong lawmaker R.S.N. Rayer and Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.
Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh said Putrajaya was being ridiculous in barring lawmakers from going to Parliament House.
“MPs are not only allowed to enter Parliament House but are being stopped from going anywhere near the building. This is ridiculous. This should not be happening. Why are they so afraid?” he asked.
Today was to be the last day of a five-day special sitting that the Perikatan Nasional government agreed to hold despite the emergency, which ended yesterday.
The opposition MPs want the government to explain the revocation of emergency ordinances announced last week that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong said did not have his assent, causing an uproar in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday. – August 2, 2021.
