Police say arrests of Falun Gong followers followed the law
KUALA LUMPUR: Police acted in accordance with the law when taking action against Falun Gong followers prior to the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping, said Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa.
"We made many arrests. It was not just one or two people. Some were remanded for two days, while others were remanded for three days," he told reporters today.
He added that the City Criminal Investigations Department (CID) chief, Senior Assistant Commissioner Mohd Razali Mohd Idrus, was instructed to take stern action against the group, as they are an illegal organisation and not permitted to conduct any activities in the country.
"Claims that we received instructions from higher-ups are baseless. It was I who ordered it.
"The issue was referred to me. As long as our actions followed the law and were deemed necessary, we proceeded accordingly," he said.
Rusdi cited Section 43 of the Societies Act, which stated that action can be taken against any member of an unlawful society.
Section 43 states that any person who is or acts as a member of an unlawful society, attends a meeting of an unlawful society, or provides money or any aid to or for the purposes of an unlawful society, commits an offence and, upon conviction, is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or a fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit, or both.
When asked if the police had received intelligence that the group planned to hold demonstrations, Rusdi declined to comment, saying that such matters were part of the police tradecraft.
"Intelligence gathering is conducted every day, and we cannot reveal it," he said.
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