PETALING JAYA: Nine students from an alternative school in Sabah have been released on police bail a week after they were arrested during a protest at Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
Kota Kinabalu police chief Kasim Muda confirmed to FMT that the students were released from custody at about 7pm at the Kepayan police station yesterday.
Last Saturday, police arrested the nine students who were attending the #KamiMahuAir rally, organised by UMS students outside the state chief minister’s office.
Kasim said they were detained after an inspection of their van revealed they did not have any identification documents.
Earlier today, a group of academics accused the police of attempting to intimidate the students and silence them by carrying out an investigation into the protest.
More than 80 students were reported to have marched about 3km from UMS to Menara Kinabalu on June 14 to deliver a memorandum to Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor.
The group allegedly refused to move even after Sabah deputy chief minister Shahelmey Yahya offered to accept their memorandum regarding the water issues.
Kasim said the police had opened an investigation under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 in connection with the rally and would refer the case to the public prosecutor for further action.
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