SSKM volunteers detained at Tuaran police station

TUARAN - Nine Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM) volunteers (6 males, 3 females) have been arrested and detained at the Tuaran Police Station this morning at 9 am. They have their statements were recorded, according to eye-witnesses at the scene who uploaded an update in Whatsapp.

They were later released after calling 18 others to sign as guarantors before being released at 5 pm.

It’s not known whether they will face any charges.

Earlier, the arrests and detention went viral in the social media, especially Whatsapp and Facebook which has pictures uploaded.

Apparently, they were picked up at the tamu (fair) grounds while handing out petitions for signature.

There was some kind of stand-off outside the gates of the police station, according to these reports, “and riot police were mobilised to block the entrance”.

Sabah Progressive Party President Yong Teck Lee, its deputy president Amde Sidik, former assemblyman James Ligunjang and former MP Kalakal Untol along with SSKM supporters and members of the public, milled outside the gate. The two leaders apparently wanted to enter the police station to try and intervene on behalf of those detained.

UK-based Doris Jones, the chairperson of Sabah Sarawak Union (UK), the NGO behind the SSKM movement, said in a Facebook posting in an immediate reaction that she “will deal with this matter with NGOs in Sabah”.

“I am still waiting for the result or conclusion from the authority,” she added. “I have no further comments at this moment.