Yet another false promise of better democracy
YOURSAY 'It's amazing how BN keeps making false promises of greater democracy only to infuriate Malaysians with another flip-flop.'
Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 bans street protest
Quigonbond:
The bill is clearly to stymie Bersih 3.0 and remove the last vestiges of freedom of assembly in Malaysia.
Imagine, after notification, the assembly can proceed unless there is an objection from the police? How's that different from requiring a police permit?
On top of that, it takes away the power of the court to injunct certain participants from coming near a hotspot (not that this is constitutional in the first place) and makes the executive branch more powerful by giving them unlimited discretion to designate any area off-limits - you can kiss goodbye to Merdeka Stadium and anywhere BN deems rich with democratic symbolism.
I've never seen anything so brazenly unconstitutional being passed by Parliament. It's amazing how BN keeps making false promises of greater democracy only to infuriate Malaysians with another round of flip-flop.
Anonymous_3f68: This new bill will make it a cakewalk for our police, not that they are doing any serious work now except for roughing up the rakyat and ruffling the opposition.
So if this bill does become a law it will be prudent to reduce the good-for-nothing police force by half and denigrate our armed forces to a token force as we are not fighting any war except within the country.
Ben-ghazi: BN has become 'Beban Negara'. When this news get to the world stage, Malaysia will earn another minus point for its inability to provide democratic space to its people.
BN has no shame to pass this law. Even countries like Egypt and Syria have provided more space for dissent to their people.
We are fast becoming a pariah nation with this kind of repressive law. Thirty days to give notice of a gathering? When a snap election is announced, there is not even going to be a 30-day campaign period.
So how will the opposition campaign? The BN has their TV channels, Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian to do their bidding. The opposition? Nothing.
So is this the new democracy the BN is promoting? More like 'dia-mau-semua-kerusi'!
OMG: This also means no more Friday protests at the mosque, right? And no more ‘frog'-led protests or Komtar protests?
HYL: So how do we, the rakyat, tell the government - be it BN or other ruling bloc - of our dissatisfaction if they do not heed our grievances?
We demanded for a clean electoral process but were ignored. We demanded for an uncorrupted government but were ignored. So, who and where could we turn to other than to the streets?
Cintaman: This is how we intend to become the best democracy in the world? Peaceful assembly is a right under the constitution. Do we need a bill for peaceful assembly?
FellowMalaysian: I can't help but laugh at the draft of this bill. Not only does it declare street protests as illegal, it virtually has banned any form of protests, whether in the streets or otherwise.
Kuala Lumpur has plenty of places of worship scattered throughout the city and coupled with the inclusion of schools and hospitals, there is hardly a spot here that you can find that is 50 meters beyond such places.
By banning all forms of protests, this proposal curtails our freedom of expression which is a sacrosanct virtue enshrined in our constitution.
PM Najib Razak and Minister in the PM's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz are displaying archaic mentality and are hoping that this would help ensure that BN stays in power.
They also want folks to be subservient, meek and agree to whatever policies or Acts and Bills that they propose without the slightest hint of displeasure or disagreement.
Swipenter: This is what you get in the world's best democracy, a law that is designed to curb peaceful protests by its own citizens for not doing a good job in governing the country.
Bluemountains: This bill is unconstitutional. I can't imagine a government going against the constitution. If the rakyat goes against the constitution, they can be punished. If the government goes against the constitution, it must also be punished.
Yum: The left hand giveth, the right hand taketh. Am I the only one, or does everyone think the Najib government is just all spin?
If anyone still needs a reason to change this government, let this new bill be that last straw. If BN does come to power again, we can expect more bellicose statements, and a cracking of the whip to keep citizens in line.
It should be named 'Illegal Assembly Bill'
Tailek: The home minister should resign or be sacked by PM for trying to undermine the PM's promises and trying to hoodwink the rakyat yet again.
Next thing, they will say is that rallies can only be held in the ballroom of five-star hotels approved by the Home Ministry.
This is how BN operates. Vote wisely at GE13 and tell BN that the rakyat is king, not BN or Umno.
Not Confused: I really don't understand why the PM and his sycophantic colleagues are wasting the Dewan Rakyat's time.
The new bill makes it even more difficult to hold a protest of any kind or to have any real freedom of assembly. It's even more draconian than the current legal position and totally contradicts the federal constitution as far as I can see.
It's a disgrace and seals the fate of this stupid, arrogant and ignorant government at the GE.
Ashoka PJ: If this bills passes, Bersih 1.0 and 2.0 would have been a waste of time and you can bet BN will win GE13. Bring on Bersih 3.0 now to ensure this bill is not passed.
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