Malaysia anti-discrimination rally sparks mass arrests
Malaysian police on Sunday arrested more than 100 Indian activists as they tried to hold an anti-government rally over alleged discrimination against their ethnic minority. Members from the Human Rights Party organisation were to have gathered at the iconic Petronas Twin Towers for the “anti-racism rally”, but it was aborted after 109 people were held, including the group’s leader.
Multiracial Malaysia was hit by deadly race riots in 1969 and race relations remain often fragile, with religion and language still sensitive issues. The arrests are among the biggest such incidents in recent years.
The 109, including eight women, were picked up at various locations around Kuala Lumpur as they tried to march to the Twin Towers, which had been cordoned off and where at least 10 police trucks and water cannon vehicles were on standby. Police were also seen telling ethnic Indians, suspected to be demonstrators, to leave the vicinity.