The Coalition for Free and Clean elections (Bersih 2.0) has expressed disappointment that the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 was passed by the Dewan Negara yesterday, although its contents are seen to violate fundamental rights.

Bersih 2.0 also called on any move to obtain assent from the Yang di Pertuan Agong to gazette the Bill to be halted.

“Clean, free and fair elections are a fantasy when civil liberties are curbed. The Bill should be withdrawn immediately,” said Bersih 2.0 in a statement.

The Bill, which was passed yesterday in the Dewan Negara, the upper house, prohibits street protests. This has affected the Barisan Nasional government dearly, with protests organised by Bersih and Bersih 2.0, the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), as well as the Bar Council which held a protest following the Lingam-gate affair.

NONE More than 1,000 lawyers had marched to the Parliament on Nov 29 in a protest organised by the Bar Council against the Bill, when it was debated.

In a related development, PAS legal adviser Mohd Hanipa Maidin ( right ) told Malaysiakini that they would appeal the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision which dismissed their judicial review application to challenge the Bill.

Hanipa, who represented PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, Kuala Krai MP Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli and Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad, said they have 30 days from Dec 15 to file an appeal over the decision.

“We are weighing whether to file the appeal now or wait until the Bill becomes an Act and then challenging it. If we opt for the second option then we will file a fresh application.

“Any laws which are against civil liberties of any person are unconstitutional and there is a basis for PAS to make this challenge” he said.