Jerit (Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas or Marginalised Peoples Network) handed over a memorandum to the Government on Day 16 of its “Cyclists for Change” campaign.
Cyclist Mat Nasir Din handed over the memorandum to Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator T. Murugiah on Thursday.
Police had earlier barred 130 cyclists, Jerit organisers and members from entering Parliament for about an hour.
The 80 cyclists were finally allowed to enter in stages, with 40 allowed to cycle in while another 40 had to leave their bicycles at the entrance and walk in.
A police helicopter was also seen circling the air above the Parliament area.
After much negotiation between the police and Opposition MPs and Jerit organisers, they were allowed to enter the multipurpose hall adjacent to the Parliament building where the memorandum was handed over.
Jerit national coordinator Y. Kohila said that it was a meaningful occasion for them because the cyclists who cycled from Kedah and Johor had faced many obstacles along the way, but had successfully arrived in Parliament to submit the memorandum.
“Our requests are simple. We want the Government to abolish Internal Security Act, pass a Minimum Wage Act for workers, provide homes for all, stop the privatisation of public facilities, control the prices of goods and restore local government elections,” she said.
Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (PSM-Sungai Siput) thanked the Parliament administration for allowing Jerit to enter and use the hall, but voiced his disappointment with the police for what he said was unnecessary harrassment.
He said 111 arrests had been made for allegedly giving out pamphlets, illegal gathering and exploiting children in various states during the cycling campaign.
“The large number of police at the Parliament entrance and a helicopter in the air — they should be busy hunting down criminals rather than cyclists,” he said.
Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) “commended” the police for highlighting the campaign — without the alleged police harrassment, the event would not have received so much attention locally and internationally, he said.
