Tian Chua: May 1 anti-GST rally not organised by us

G Vinod | April 16, 2014

PKR vice president Tian Chua says that it is not necessary for him to give a statement to the police as he is not the organiser for the May 1 rally.

PETALING JAYA: It is not necessary for me to give statement to the police on the May 1 rally, said PKR vice president Tian Chua today.

“We are not the organiser of the May 1 rally. PKR’s participation in the upcoming gathering is just to object the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and support workers’ demand,” he said.

Yesterday, the Dang Wangi police had summoned Tian Chua to give statement today on his participation on the upcoming May 1 rally, organised by Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM).

The rally, according to SAMM coordinator Badrul Hisham Shaharin, is to oppose the government’s move to introduce GST, come April 2015.

Tian Chua, who is also Batu MP, said that he would not be able to help the police if they question him on the details of the rally.

“So it is best if they talk to the NGO (SAMM),” he said.

Asked if the police insist on his presence, Tian Chua said that he would go on a later date when other Pakatan Rakyat leaders attending the rally are in town.

“Mat Sabu (PAS deputy president) is not around. So it is not proper for me to go alone as we will not be able to give a common stand.

“So I will go when the others are present. I have already told S Arutchelvan ( Parti Sosialis Malaysia secretary-general) to convey the message to the police,” he said.

Arutchelvan is scheduled to give a statement to the police today in regards to the May 1 rally.

Meanwhile, Arutchelvan told FMT that the police were keen in facilitating the rally.

“They were proactive in wanting to facilitate the rally. We told them that civil society groups would be gathering in KLCC at 2 pm.

“A May Day Declaration would be read at 3pm and then we would walk to Dataran Merdeka,” he said after meeting the police in Dang Wangi district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

He added that the police told him that Dataran Merdeka is closed for renovation work until June.

“We did not commit anything to that,” he said.

Arutchelvan added that the committee would notify the police 10 days before the event in accordance to Peaceful Assembly Act.

The police also wanted Pakatan leaders – PAS deputy president Mat Sabu and Kuala Krai MP Dr Hatta Ramli to notify the police on time.

The duo were supposed to meet the police today but Mat Sabu had requested for a meeting on April 21 which violates the ten day requirement.

It is learnt Pakatan Rakyat supporters would be gathering at various spots around KL such as Masjid Jamek and Sogo before gathering in Dataran Merdeka.