KUALA LUMPUR – The teacher arrested during the recent Sabah’s #KamiMahuAir rally was released from police custody earlier today.
Speaking to Scoop, non-governmental organisation Borneo Komrad representative Wan Shakila Adiela said that the teacher, Syahfeeq Rondin, was released on police bail earlier today.
“Syahfeeq was released on police bail around 3pm this afternoon. He was remanded for four days in total. However, the eight students are still being held at Kepayan police station in Kota Kinabalu.
She said the remand should have only lasted two days but the investigating officer extended the remand period for another two days on Monday during the Aidiladha celebrations without informing Syahfeeq’s lawyer.
Shakila also highlighted that of the eight students who were also arrested, three of them are minors aged between 15 and 17. She added that they will be spending another night in police custody.
The other five arrested are between the ages of 18 and 22. The students have been remanded for 14 days due to documentation issues.
“Based on information from Syahfeeq, they were locked up together but separated according to age.
“The minors were put in the juvenile section and the adults were grouped together. Fortunately, the students are being treated well and are fed,” she said.
She added that currently, they do not intend to pursue legal action against the authorities, but are actively campaigning to press the government to release the students by raising awareness about the situation.
She also clarified that the students’ presence at the rally was due to a visit organised by Borneo Komrad to universities, which hoped to be a platform to empower local stateless communities.
“What we aimed to do was to address gaps left by the government. Unfortunately, the students were arrested due to issues with documentation, which reflects the thousands of arrests involving individuals facing similar documentation challenges.
“So, we hope the government will look at these children, especially the three underaged kids, and release them. This gives them the opportunity to have access to education and go to schools,” she said.
Earlier, nine people were arrested and brought to the police station during a protest organised by Universiti Malaysia Sabah students outside the Sabah Chief Minister’s Office, highlighting water issues in Sabah.
It was later disclosed that those detained included Syahfeeq and the eight students.
Bersih, an electoral watchdog, had also urged the government to respect the right to assemble after the students and Syahfeeq were arrested.
Bersih stated that police had no valid reason for apprehending the students, emphasising that they were not the primary organisers of the rally. – June 19, 2024.