PENANG Parti Sosialis Malaysia member and activist R. Karthiges is being hauled to court after he protested the eviction of residents at the Padang Tembak PPR (people’s public housing) flat last month.

He and Nathan Munusamy, a relative of one of the evicted residents, will be charged with voluntarily obstructing a public servant in the discharge of his public functions under Section 186 of the Penal Code.

The offence carries a jail term that may extend to two years, a RM10,000 fine, or both.

PSM national committee member Choo Chon Kai said counsel Arafas Abdul Razak, who represented Karthiges when he was arrested on June 5 following the protest, was contacted by the police today about the charge against the duo.

“PSM condemns the decision to charge both men simply for trying to defend the poor PPR residents who were being forcibly evicted.

“PSM would like to urge the authorities to drop the case against Karthiges and Nathan immediately,” he said in a statement today.

Choo said the prosecution was without solid reason and would waste the court’s time and resources.

He said even the evicted residents had been offered alternative homes by the state government following a discussion after the eviction.

“But now the two men are being hauled to court over an unreasonable prosecution,” he said.

On June 5, both men were detained by police in front of Mahathir Hajah Mydeen’s flat when the resident was being evicted. They were at the scene to show solidarity for the residents. The two were released on police bail the same night. – July 1, 2018.