COMMENT | Over the past 72 hours, social media and news portals have been flooded with debates about peaceful assembly.

Suddenly, everyone has rediscovered Article 10 of the Federal Constitution. Suddenly, everyone is a defender of the right to protest.

And as we should be. The right to peaceful assembly is a fundamental constitutional freedom and a universal human right. But like all fundamental freedoms, it is not absolute. It cannot be exercised in a way that infringes on the dignity, security, or equal protection of others.

Let us be clear about what this debate is really about. This is no longer a discussion about whether Malaysians have the right to assemble. They do.

The issue being debated is whether the prime minister’s warning crossed a line, whether his words were excessive.

Some have cited constitutional provisions and court decisions as if...