With police not allowing the Dataran Merdeka venue for the May 1 anti-Goods and Services Tax (GST) rally, the organisers are remaining firm with their plan to gather there from Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).

A spokesperson for the rally and PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan( left ) said they are of the view that Article 10 of the federal constitution provides for peaceful of assembly without arms.

Besides this, police had previously issued permits for the Workers Day rally and other gatherings without being asked.

“Prior to this, we had gathered in front of KLCC. We did not ask for a permit during a protest against former secretary of state Condoleeza Rice. Police only called us and asked us to come to the police station, and not to take a permit.

“Hence, the requirement to seek the authorities’ permission is useless,” said Arutchelvam.

Giving his assurance that the rally will be peaceful, Arutchelvan also hoped that police will uphold its promise to not take action against peaceful demonstrators.

“We hope they will fulfill their promise,” he said.

Meanwhile, he also lauded the court decision that failure to give 10 days’ notice for a rally a criminal offence under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 is unconstitutional.

“We respect this decision and hope more will come down (on May 1),” he said.

The Court of Appeal this morning delivered a landmark judgment that Section 9 (5) of the Act which criminalises failure to give 10 days’ notice before a rally is unconstitutional.