Three PKR Youth leaders have received a notice of attendance to be present at  the magistrate’s court in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday where they are expected to be charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA).

PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, his deputy, Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainuddin and vice-head Mohd Nazree Mohd Yunus received the notice after police took their statements at the Dang Wangi police station today.

Shamsul Iskandar said they will be charged under Section 4(2) (b) with gathering in the vicinity of the Al Rahman mosque at Universiti Malaya on June 22, during the Blackout 505 rally.

Under the section, the accused person stand to face a maximum fine of up to RM20,000 if convicted.

The three were called to give evidence at the police station at about 11.15 am and were accompanied by their lawyer A Jeyaseelen.

Speaking to Malaysiakini this evening, Shamsul said he felt regretful, as they had initially thought they were called to give evidence under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code but instead were later summoned to court.

“We were given the impression that our presence was originally to assist in investigations. Therefore, the style of delivery of such lawsuits is very improper,” said Shamsul.

With the three, this brings the total number of protesters so far charged with involvement in the last Blackout 505 rally to 43 people. They were all charged with various offences arising from the June 22-24 rally at Padang Merbok to protest against election fraud.

NONE After a rally attended by some 30,000 people, a small group numbering 100 people had camped overnight on Padang Merbok before being evicted on the morning of June 24. Some 200 protesters then marched on to Parliament to demand the resignation of election commission members.

Previously, on July 26, Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli and Seremban MP Anthony Loke were charged together with five others under the same Act.

Rafizi and Anthony were charged under Section 15 (3),  accused of organising the rally, had not comply with police and did not seek the consent of the owner of the field for this purpose. Both were also charged under Section 9 (1) of the same Act for allegedly not informing the district police chief within 10 days before the rally was conducted, while five others were charged under Section 4 (2) (b) of the same Act.

Then on July 29, 33 people, including leaders of the Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) Badrul Hisham Shahrin and ‘Auntie Bersih’ Anne Ooi were also charged under Section 143 and Section 147 of the Penal Code with unlawful assembly.