Trouble-free ride in Shah Alam, memo handed to MB

Some 80 cyclists participating in the 'Ride for Change' campaign met with Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim at the state secretariat building in Shah Alam this afternoon.

Facing no obstacles from the police this time around, the cyclists from the northern and southern teams managed to hand a memorandum to Khalid urging him to address the plight of the people.

The cyclists had first gathered at Bukit Cerakah at around 12.30pm, some six kilometres from the menteri besar's office.

Here, the police set the condition that the cyclists have to travel one by one and not in a group in order not to disrupt the traffic.

Contacted later, Shah Alam deputy district police chief M Chandran said: "I had a talk with the co-ordinators and asked them to shorten their journey if they want to ride in groups. So they stopped in front of Dataran Shah Alam and gathered there to go to the secretariat office."

Asked why the Shah Alam police appeared to be more lenient than their Rawang counterparts, who arrested 57 Jerit cyclists for illegal procession two days ago, Chandran replied: "If they had used the main roads, we would have arrested them for illegal procession (as well)."

"But they did not use the main roads and they were cycling in much smaller groups. They were very obedient of my instructions," he added.

Yesterday, Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said the Rawang police had stopped the cyclists in order to " save the under-aged participants " from being exploited.

Jerit however accused Khalid of "misleading the public" and claimed that the under-aged cyclists participated in the campaign with their parents' consent.

MB thankful for campaign

The cycling campaign started simultaneously from Kedah and Johor on Dec 3 to raise public awareness on issues such as food shortage, environmental problems, draconian laws and the impending economic crisis.

The two teams are scheduled to reach Kuala Lumpur tomorrow to submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim at the Parliament House.

The campaign had seen much drama over the days with arrests and roadblocks. Several bicycles were also torched by arsonists.

Jerit had accused the police of harassment and submitted a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) on the matter.

Meanwhile, the menteri besar said he was thankful for such a campaign although the cyclists rode into many “hurdles and obstacles” throughout their journey.

"But that is what we call a struggle. We thank Jerit for fighting for the people’s rights and I hope this will go on for the benefit of the country and the people," he said.

VIDEO | 8 mins