M Tamilselvan had gone to the Parliament building this morning to express his support for the cyclists participating in the 'Ride for Change' campaign.

jerit parliament ride for change final leg 181208 tamilselvam While the cyclists, who endured all sorts of obstacles from the police in the course of their 16-day nationwide tour, managed to complete their task of submitting a memorandum to the prime minister and opposition leader without any major hiccups, Tamilselvan however was dragged off to the police station.

According to the police, Tamilselvan - who is said to be from Semenyih - had allegedly prevented police personnel from discharging their duties.

Kuala Lumpur police's head of internal security and public order Abdul Hamid Mohd Ali also accused Tamilselvan of getting "physical" towards the police.

Meanwhile, grassroots coalition Jerit coordinator E Nalini, who is at the Dang Wangi police station where Tamilselvan is being held, said the latter is also being investigated for accusing the police of stealing the bicycles used by the activists.

Jerit is the organiser of the 'Ride for Change' campaign.

Tamilselvan was released on a police bail at about 4.30pm

Memo submitted

Earlier, some 250 cyclists had gathered at the Lake Gardens around 10am on their way to Parliament to submit the memorandum.

jerit parliament ride for change final leg 181208 19 The memorandum highlighted Jerit's concerns on a range of issues such as the shortage of food, the global financial crisis and environmental problems amongst others.

Two batches of cyclists who had begun their journey from Kedah in the north and Johor in the south on Dec 3 and 6 respectively came together in Shah Alam, Selangor, yesterday.

At Lake Gardens, the riders were repeatedly stopped by the police, who finally allowed only four riders to Parliament while the rest had to walk.

The memorandum was later submitted to Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department T Murugiah and several opposition parliamentarians.

Certificates and medals

In a related development, the cyclists who had taken part in the campaign were awarded with certificates of achievement and medals.

jerit certificate giving ceremony for riders ride for change campaign 181208 02 A total of 83 cyclists, who had gathered at the Chinese Assembly Hall for lunch in Kuala Lumpur after their excursion to Parliament today, were presented the awards in the presence of their parents.

Prior to the award ceremony, several Jerit coordinators had roused the over 200 people present with motivational speeches of their 16-day journey which began on Dec 3.

All the speakers reiterated the six-point demand calling for the enactment of the minimum wages act, controls on consumer item prices, comfortable housing, privatisation of basic amenities, abolition preventive laws and recognition of the peoples' political power.