Every citizen of Malaysia has the right to the freedom of peaceful assembly, but the exercise of this right must be done as prescribed by law, said chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) Hasmy Agam.

As such, he said those who planned to attend the impending assembly dubbed the 'Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu' tomorrow, must understand and respect the principles of peaceful assembly.

Participants, among others, must not take the law into their own hands, but instead must respect the law enforcers who have roles and responsibilities to ensure safety and security of all Malaysians, as well as to maintain peace and public order in the country, he said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur today.

Hasmy said the organiser of the assembly must also give full cooperation to the authorities, especially the police, to ensure that the participants would adhere to the law at all time during the assembly.

He said Suhakam would also monitor the process of the assembly, scheduled to take place in Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow, with the hope that the assembly would not pursue an unlawful objective.

- Bernama