SEKRETARIAT Solidariti Rakyat (SSR) has started a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to pay RM62,000 worth of compounds issued to 31 protestors attempting to conduct a vigil at Dataran Merdeka last week.

“We would like to ask Malaysians to contribute, to help pay the compound,” the movement of youth activists said in a statement today.

Police fined 31 people RM2,000 each after they tried to hold a vigil to commemorate the Covid-19 dead at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on the night of August 19.

SSR said the vigil was supposed to have been a time to remember family and friends who lost their lives to Covid-19, but it turned into a confrontation when the police arrested all those present.

Dang Wangi police chief Noor Dellhan Yahaya said the SSR members were fined for violating Covid-19 standard operating procedure.

The participants were compounded after questioning at Dang Wangi police headquarters.

Activists complained on social media that police denied them access to legal representation.

The group is now considering legal action.

“In our discussions with several lawyers, it is possible we will sue the police because the arrests were unconstitutional and detainees were not given access to their lawyers.

“We lodged a police report on August 22 at Sentul police headquarters for an investigation into the Dang Wangi police officer who detained the participants that night,” SSR said today.

The group is collecting donations through the account ‘Persatuan Pengundi Muda’, a CIMB account (8603878996), with the reference: #LAWAN. – August 23, 2021.