Joint Statment | Unlawful Arrests and Forced Evictions in Breach of Selangor Mb’s Directive

/in , /by

We, the undersigned organisations, condemn the arrests of activists S. Arutchelvan and Mythreyar, as well as resident Logeswaran at around 4.00pm on 12 November 2025 under Section 186 of the Penal Code. These arrests were unwarranted. Together with Kampung Papan residents, they clearly informed the police that the Selangor Menteri Besar had authorised that occupied houses are not to be demolished. This directive was issued via the 23 October press statement titled “Kerajaan Negeri Cakna Isu Penempatan Peneroka Jalan Papan”, which affirmed: “Kerajaan Negeri menegaskan bahawa kerja-kerja perobohan hendaklah dihadkan kepada rumah dan premis perniagaan yang kosong serta tidak mempunyai penghuni sahaja selaras dengan arahan dan semangat penyelesaian secara berhemah yang telah dipersetujui bersama melalui perundingan semua pihak berkepentingan yang dipengerusikan YAB Dato Menteri Besar sendiri pada Selasa, 21hb Oktober yang lepas”.

Yet today, homes still occupied by residents were forcefully cleared —belongings removed and residents physically pushed out—directly contravening the Menteri Besar’s statement and the state’s directives. The three individuals arrested were acting on the Selangor State Government’s directive that occupied houses should not be demolished until an amicable solution is achieved. Instead, officers of IPD Klang Selatan, including the OCPD, defied the Menteri Besar’s directive by assisting the developer, Melati Ehsan, to forcibly evict occupants. The arrests are therefore unnecessary and unlawful, as the three acted in accordance with the advice and directive of the Menteri Besar and the state government.

We demand the immediate and unconditional release of S. Arutchelvan, Mythreyar and Logeswaran. We further call on the Selangor state government to intervene and ensure that the demolition is halted, with no further forced evictions undertaken until all residents receive adequate alternative housing.

Endorsed by:

  1. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
  2. Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advanacement (TBH-ADA)
  3. Ruang Kongsi
  4. Karunjattai
  5. Kesatuan Pekerja Pekerja Swasta Perkhidmatan Sokongan Di Hospital Hospital Kerajaan Dan Jabatan Jabatan Kerajaan Semenanjung Malaysia
  6. Pertubuhan Persaudaraan Pesawah Malaysia (PeSAWAH)
  7. Forum Kedaulatan Makanan Malaysia (FKMM)
  8. Parti Sosialis Malaysia
  9. Gabungan MARHAEN
  10. Pemuda Sosialis
  11. Third World Network
  12. Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
  13. Alliance of River Three
  14. Agora Society Malaysia
  15. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
  16. Aliran
  17. Freedom Film Network
  18. Pusat Pelajar Marhaen (PPM)
  19. Pertubuhan SiraguGal
  20. GEGAR
  21. Jaringan Pekerja Kontrak Kerajaan (JPKK)
  22. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)
  23. Angkatan Kesatuan Siswa Sosialis (AKSI)
  24. Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM)
  25. Jaringan Orang ASLI Negeri Sembilan (JOAN)
  26. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
  27. Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
  28. People Like Us Support Ourselves (PLUsos)
  29. Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
  30. Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM)
  31. Hindu youths organisation Port Klang
  32. Ikatan Demokratik Malaysia (MUDA)
  33. Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM)
  34. Cahaya Society
  35. Filsufi. & Co
  36. Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4)
  37. Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (CAGED）
  38. Justice For Sisters
  39. SIS Forum Malaysia
  40. ARTICLE 19
  41. KLSCAH Youth
  42. BERSIH
  43. Liga Mahasiswa Malaysia
  44. Liga Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya
  45. Gerakann Perempuan Melawan
  46. Liga Rakyat Demokratik
  47. Federasi Pemuda Kebangsaan
  48. MANDIRI
  49. MAJU
  50. Pro-siswa Kolej Komuniti
  51. Projek Ruang Lawan Malaysia
  52. HAYAT
  53. Amnesty International Malaysia
  54. TENAGANITA
  55. North South Initiative (NSI)
  56. Community Action Network (CAN)
  57. Klima Action Malaysia (KAMY)
  58. Persatuan Martabat Untuk Semua Petaling Jaya (Martabat PJ )
  59. Pusat KOMAS

Individuals

  1. Dr Aaron Denison Deivasagayam
  2. Mayna Ramesh Patel
  3. Thilaga Sulathireh
  4. Beverly Joeman