Jerit, Jerit,Jerit!

Recently you may have read about how the police stopped a team of more than 50 riders in Jerit's ‘Ride for Change' campaign in Rawang yesterday in order to "save under-aged cyclists" from being exploited.

The Selangor police Chief Khalid Abu Bakar said that they detained the children for taking part in an illegal procession and upon checkeing their details, 28 were found to be under the age of 18...clearly this violates the Child Act as some are only 15 years old,"

"When giving their statements, these children said they did not know why they were asked to participate in the cycling event," he told reporters at the Rawang police station last night. He also said the police had contacted their parents to take them home and would investigate whether the children had received permission to take part in the event. Khalid also told reporters that the teenagers were confused about the purpose of the expedition.

"As for the children, we have actually saved them from being misused and exploited by irresponsible people... we did not arrest them."
Wow here is one true civil servant who saves lives!

Now let’s hear from the organizers Jerit. The movement, in a statement, said that the state's top cop Khalid Abu Bakar had "lied and misled" the public on the actual situation with his statements. This is a strong call!
Jerit responded by saying that all the under-aged cyclists had parental consent to take part in the cycling campaign. "The children actually refused to say anything to the police officers as they did not want to cooperate with the police as they are being detained illegally.

"The children were also questioned by police whether they were paid to do this. What was the police trying to show with these kind of questions?" asked the movement.
Jerit also said that it had been very responsible in taking care of the cyclists' welfare since day one. Jerit pointed out that the police on the other hand had failed to provide the children with shelter from rain last night while they were kept at the Rawang police station. And when they (the children) tried to find shelter, the Light Strike Force threatened and intimidated them.

"They were not given food until 11pm at night and that too only after so much of pressure," added the Jerit statement. Jerit also said that Khalid had failed to mention that the children were arrested without the presence of any officers from the Welfare Department. "Children are not supposed be kept overnight in the police station, but the police kept them there the whole night. How is that for breaking laws?" questioned Jerit.


Even then, the parents were not allowed to fetch their children without hassle, added Jerit. When the parents arrived at the police station, they were not allowed in, and then police insisted on taking statement from each parent before releasing their children. "Isn't this a violation? Why do the parents need to give statement? The parents protested and refused to give statement to police and demanded for their children. The police were causing more trauma and agony to the parents of the children," added Jerit in the statement.
This is what some of the cyclist have to say about their ordeal! Fifteen-year-old cyclist S Thivyakumar lambasted the cops for thinking that the teenagers were “too young” to take care of themselves and join Jerit's campaign.

“They keep asking us whether we know why we are here... of course we do!” he exclaimed. “We are here to fight for a better life... and we are not young children that every time we want to go to the toilet, one of them has to accompany us,” he said.
Another cyclist M Ravindran similarly stated that they were well-aware of the objectives of the campaign. The riders also claimed that the police did not care when they got wet during heavy rain yesterday. According to them, the area where they were incarcerated - before they were moved into the police station later in the night - had began flooding due to the downpour. “We ran out as it started flooding but the police and the FRUs forced us back in there,” said 16-year-old Danny. “They then put a yellow tape around the area to keep us in,” said Danny.How considerate the police force in cordoning that area with yellow tape to avoid the criminals from escaping.
Only in Malaysia, Malaysia Boleh! Malaysian you make up your mind how Malaysia is becoming a police state under the present government. It looks like there is no end for discrimination in this country!