POLICE have clarified that Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali had her statement taken to assist an investigation on Purple Walk, a gathering of women united against the current state of Malaysian politics on September 10, 2017.

Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department director Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said Dr Siti Hasmah was in no way interrogated but had her statement taken, which she willingly obliged.

“The police would like to inform that Dr Siti Hasmah was called up to have a her statement taken pertaining to an investigation to a rally that was organised without notice last September.

“She was not interrogated in anyway but had her statement recorded professionally while respecting her status in this country,” he said in a statement today.

Najmuddin also urged external parties not to interfere with the investigations.

“The police view seriously that some parties are trying to stir still waters in regards to Dr Siti Hasmah”.

This comes after civil societies and lawyers slammed the police for hauling up the 91-year-old for a probe.

Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed said separately that the police had asked about Dr Siti Hasmah’s presence during the rally and was not to intimidate her.

Police were merely investigating her presence at a rally that did not obtain police approval, not to intimidate or use scare tactics on her,” he was reported saying by The Star in Johor Baru.

Dr Siti Hasmah had given a short speech while standing on top the back of a pick-up truck to some 1,000 women dressed in purple who marched from the Maju Junction shopping mall to Pertama Complex in the city centre.

The wife of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had urged the women to oppose “toxic politics”, including injustice against women, political violence, the use of threats, racism, sexism, hate speech, abuse of the law and disregard for the federal constitution. – January 28, 2018.