Malaysians have suggested that the response from the police was an overreaction as the people were only exercising their constitutional right during the protest for Azam Baki’s resignation on Saturday, January 22.

Several hundred Malaysians took on the road of Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur to voice for the resignation of Azam Baki from his role at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

Surrounding the protest were countless police officers standing by in case of the protest turned violent.

However, Malaysians believe that it was a waste of resources, adding that the authorities had made it inconvenient to gather as they had banned public transportation on that day.

Sivapragasam Chinniah said, “The police are simply overreacting. A crowd of 500 is not hard to control so closing major roads and trains stations as well as deploying policemen were unnecessary.”

She also mentioned that past protest was always peaceful, so there should have not been caused for concerns about this.

Calls for a designated place to protest have been made for future protests to make it safer and more convenient.

Balbil Bhunda, a taxi driver, was displeased that roads were closed because it had hampered his earnings for the day.

He said, “When I heard about the multiple road closures, I already expected it would affect my fares today.”

He hopes that the police do not rely on road closures the next time public demonstrations take place.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE