Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar was among those arrested for staging a protest outside the state assembly building to highlight the plight of villagers.
The state assembly was in session when the arrests took place. The police said the protesters, including women and children, were detained for failing to disperse after taking part in an illegal gathering.
Six of them were later released on police bail.
The protesters had gathered to highlight the plight of Kampung Dewan Bandaraya Ipoh. Villagers there had not been granted land titles for more than 10 years.
Among those arrested was Hindraf’s national secretary P Ramesh, who claimed that he had suffered injuries after being assaulted by the police. He was later taken to the Ipoh general hospital for treatment.
Hindraf’s legal adviser P Uthayakumar said Ramesh was kicked in the stomach and policemen had also stomped on his back.
“He was also kicked on his head and neck. As a result he can’t even stand up properly and started vomiting. He was taken by an ambulance from the Ipoh district police headquarters to the Ipoh general hospital,” he told FMT.
Kampung DBI had been in existence since 1997, and most of its inhabitants were former Ipoh City Council workers. Since 1999, the residents had appealed for the land in vain.
‘MB gave an assurance in 2009′
PSM national deputy secretary-general R Rani said that the vexed villagers then decided to stage a protest outside the state assembly hall to get the attention of Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir.
“In 2009, the MB gave an assurance that the squatter areas around Perak will be resolved and automatic land ownership will be given to anyone living there for more than 10 years,” she said.
Rani added that Kampung DBI was in a deplorable state after the surrounding areas were developed.
“The city council also did not look into their plight despite most of the residents being its former workers,” she said, adding that the main purpose of the protest was to submit a memorandum to Zambry but this failed when the police arrested the protesters.
Ipoh police chief Azisman Alias could not be reached for comment.
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