Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has urged members of the public protesting Israel’s detention of activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) humanitarian mission to Gaza to respect the law.
Saifuddin said Malaysians’ right to peaceful assembly must be exercised in an orderly and responsible manner without jeopardising public safety or obstructing public servants in the discharge of their duties.
The minister also said that no one should use demonstrations as a pretext to create disorder or threaten national security.
“The peaceful assembly organised by some Malaysians outside the US embassy yesterday was their constitutional right, and it also reflects our solidarity with Palestenians,” he said in a Facebook post.
“However, I strongly condemn the irresponsible actions of certain individuals who tried to obstruct police officers from carrying out their duties during the gathering.”
He said police were deployed to ensure safety and public order, but that some participants had gone overboard, resulting in officers being injured.
Saifuddin said he was confident that the police would continue to carry out their responsibilities within the framework of the law to safeguard public safety and national security.
He also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all activists and volunteers, particularly Malaysians, detained by Israel.
Twenty-three Malaysians were among the activists detained by Israeli forces yesterday morning while transporting aid to Gaza on the ships.
Thousands of Malaysians rallied outside the US embassy yesterday afternoon, urging the country to pressure Israel to release the detainees and let the ships reach Gaza.
The situation escalated after some participants began blocking the traffic flow on Jalan Tun Razak, leading to a scuffle with a policeman who was elbowed in the face and suffered minor injuries.
Two men were arrested for obstructing a public servant and released on police bail today.
