KUALA LUMPUR: Maria Chin Abdullah today shared the experiences she faced while she was a detainee under Sosma.
At the Suaram Human Rights Report 2016 launch today, Maria related how her cell had no windows and that she was made to sleep on a wooden plank.
“There was no fresh air but they had an air-conditioner. However, that only made sleeping on the wooden plank even more painful for me,” she said in her speech.
She added that eight different special branch officers took turns interrogating her from 9am to 6pm and she was made to walk to the interrogation room handcuffed and with dark sunglasses.
“I was also not allowed to wear undergarments, and this made me feel extremely vulnerable especially when all the interrogators were men,” Maria said.
She added that though the interrogators were mostly professional, they did make some sharp and hurtful comments about family and friends.
Maria revealed that during her time at the detention centre she had no idea where she was and that she was not allowed to use her name as well.
“So your lawyers, your family, even you don’t know where you are and while I was there I was referred to only as 378. I’m not even allowed to answer to my name. I’m only 378,” she said.
She said by the line of questioning she received, it seemed as though the police were trying to form a conspiracy theory about how Bersih 2.0 had received funding from a foundation linked to billionaire George Soros.
“From 2010 to 2011, we did take funding from Soros but we had declared it.
“In 2012, we filed a suit against The New Straits Times and the newspaper had to apologise to us for reporting that we had US$20 million. Now its RM3.2 billion from Soros and this time it (the accusations) won’t work either.”
Also present at the Suaram event today was activist Hishamuddin Rais, who also spoke about Soros’ funding.
“In 1967, I saw a James Bond movie and I wanted to become a spy,” he said.
“I would have loved to work for the CIA and I’ve been leaving my bank account everywhere in the hope that Soros would give me money. I’ve been questioned by police and the worst part is I still haven’t gotten a single cent,” Hishamuddin said to the amusement of all present.