The government has been urged to live up to its pledge to review the Police Act, even as NGOs and political parties from both sides of the divide declare outrage over the arrest of scores of activists over the weekend.

anti-isa vigil in petaling jaya amcorp mall 5 Gerakan deputy secretary-general Liang Teck Meng said measures are needed to allow peaceful assembly and curtail the “unlimited power” of district police chiefs, particularly in deciding whether or not to issue permits for assemblies, meetings and processions.

He said Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein had, last August, announced plans to review the Act to allow assemblies in stadiums and “certain corners of town”.

“There should be substitute regulations that set out reasonable and negotiated conditions for an assembly and an appeal process that eliminates political grounds on which decisions to withhold permission are often made,” he said in a statement today.

penang isa vigil 010810 vigil infront of jelutong police station The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) said the Police Act should not even exist. Just like the Internal Security Act (ISA), which activists protested against last night ( left ), it tramples on the people’s fundamental right to freedom of assembly.

“The arrest of citizens who had wanted to gather to peacefully protest a law that violates the fundamental right against arbitrary arrest and detention, and to a fair and public hearing in court, makes a mockery of Malaysia’s membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council.

“It is the Police Act, which requires a permit for an ‘assembly’ of three and more persons, that is illegitimate and, like all unjust laws throughout history, should be defied.”

‘IGP must apologise’

NONE Suaram, which had jointly organised yesterday’s candlelight vigil with the Abolish ISA Movement, demanded that inspector-general of police (IGP) Musa Hassan ( right ) issue an immediate apology for the heavy-handed treatment of activists last night.

Suaram said the arrests were a case of abuse of power by the government and a failure to protect and uphold fundamental rights enshrined in the federal constitution.

“We are deeply shocked and disturbed by this blatant transgression of the rule of law... he (the IGP) should be ashamed of himself for transforming the Malaysian police force into one without integrity and professionalism.”

Amnesty International-Malaysia (AI-M)stressed that since the government is reviewing the ISA, any form of discussion and expression regarding the Act should be considered and the public should not be penalised for voicing it peacefully.

“Our Malaysian public should not be intimidated for speaking out. Freedom of expression must be observed and respected by the government and the police. It must not be silenced,” said AI-M executive director Nora Murat.

Reforms are a pipe dream       

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang pointed out that the arrests only prove that the BN-led federal government, lead by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, is not serious about its promises of reform.

sibu by election lim kit siang “It gives the lie to all talk of pending democratic reforms, (such) as allowing peaceful assemblies to be held without requiring police permits.

“The lesson from last night’s high-handed police action is that Malaysians must not drop their guard in the battle to restore democracy and human rights,” said Lim ( left ).

PAS’ Youth wing accused Umno specifically, and BN by extension, of desperation to the point of using the police to do their “dirty work” in forcing the public into being “deaf and blind” to their misdeeds.           

They also lambasted the double standards of the police in cracking down on non-government sanctioned ceramah while paying no heed to Umno/BN-run events such as the recent ‘ Selamatkan Selangor ’ (Save Selangor) roadshow.

NONE “The police must act professionally as we have repeatedly said, but these latest actions clearly show that they have (shut) their ears in the interest of their own rice bowls.

“PAS’ Youth wing believes that these acts by the police will not scare or break the people’s spirit. Instead it will surely add renewed momentum to remove Umno/BN from the mantle of leadership.”

Activists released

Meanwhile, the 30 activists, including eight women, detained for participating in the gathering organised by the Abolish the ISA Movement (GMI) in Petaling Jaya last night were released in stages today.

Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said this evening the activists were released on police bail after their statements were recorded.

"However, it does not mean that they will not be recalled. We will recall them, if necessary," he told Bernama when contacted.

The gathering was held to call for the Internal Security Act (ISA) to be abolished.

Among the activists detained yesterday were GMI chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh and PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan.