National security should not be used as an excuse to prevent political parties from holding public rallies during the elections campaign period, said social reform movement Aliran today.

The Penang-based movement said parties have the right to communicate and explain their policies to the public while the masses also have the right to know.

"National security should not be used as a convenient pretext to impose unnecessary restrictions...there are enough laws to ensure the security of Malaysian citizens," it said in a statement.

Aliran was reacting to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement over the weekend that the police and not the Election Commission can grant approval for public rallies as it concerned national security.

The movement said this is not only a mockery of the commission's independence but also raises the issue of the police's impartiality in dispensing permits.

"It reinforces the suspicion - going by experience - that the police would be partial in their decisions," it said.

Aliran questioned how Mahathir and the ruling Barisan Nasional could hold mammoth rallies "without a squeak from the police" about national security.

Democratic process

The movement said it is also concerned with the reactions to the announcement by EC chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman in an interview with malaysiakini that the ban on public rallies has been lifted.

However, he said such open gatherings are nevertheless subjected to other laws such as the Police Act for security purposes.

Following this, Defence Minister Najib Abdul Razak said Malaysia is democratic even without public rallies as the people have the ultimate power to determine the next government.

"No one is disputing our general election. Hence with or without public rallies we are still a democracy. The important thing is, the people should have the right and power to elect the government openly," he added.

Commenting on this, Aliran said public rallies are an important facet in a democracy.

"It is true that the existence of public rallies isn't the only gauge of democracy...but nonetheless, public rallies are still a vital part of the democratic process," it said.

Public rallies were banned since July 1978 by the police due to the impending 30th anniversary of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) armed struggle.