Bald statement against draconian laws

17 people, including three women, scarifice their manes in protest against detention without trial laws

PETALING JAYA(FMT): Seventeen people, three of them women, went bald today in Penang to protest against detention without trial laws.

The event was initially to take place in three cities – Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang – to protest the detention of six PSM members who held under the Emergency Ordinance(EO).

The PSM members were released unconditionally yesterday evening.

Following this, the Ipoh and the Kuala Lumpur event did not take place. However organisers in Penang followed through with the plan despite their release.

“Although the six were released, there are many others who are still being detained under draconian laws,” said  organiser,  Lee Hui Fei.

She said the event took place at 8am this morning at the Dayang Baru market in Penang.

Among those who went bald were assemblymen The Yee Cheu (Tanjung Bungah), Koay Teng Guan (Sungai Pinang), Ong Jing Cheng (Suaram Penang coordinator), Loo Que Lin (Suaram Penang secretariat).

Symbolic gesture

PKR’s Mohd Rashid Hasnon, sacrificed his beard in protest. The three women who went bald were Soh Sook Wah (a PSM member), Loo Que Lin and Yap Soo Hueng.

Lee said that volunteers from a hair saloon had lent their assistance to the cause by helping to shave of the hairs of the 18 people,
Lee said that the group was formed recently after the arrest of the six  PSM members. She added that the group consisted of around 20 “concerned citizens”.

“This is the last activity for the EO6. After this, we will continue with other activities in protest of detentions without trial,” she said.

“Shaving our hair was a symbolic gesture to voice our discontent against the government. We love ourselves, as well as our hair, but we love freedom, truth and justice even more”.

The group vowed to continue their fight against the  “inhumane oppression and detention without trial in the country”.