Dear Senator,

You may have heard that the Malaysian Bar opposes the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 on the grounds that it imposes unreasonable and disproportionate fetters on the freedom of assembly that is guaranteed under the federal constitution.

There are provisions in the Bill that are far more restrictive than the current law, such as the banning of ‘street protests’ (assemblies in motion or processions) and the unlimited powers vested in the police to dictate the time, date, place and conduct of an assembly.