Anti-Zahid rally: Govt MPs hope PN will follow law

Government lawmakers have expressed hope for Perikatan Nasional Youth to follow the law in organising a rally in Kuala Lumpur this Saturday to protest the withdrawal of corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

PKR’s Batu MP P Prabakaran reminded PN to follow the rules and apply for a police permit if they wish to hold the protest.

While pointing out that Pakatan Harapan MPs are in support of freedom of speech, Prabakaran (above) asserted that the PN rally must be a peaceful one.

“We don’t mind (a peaceful rally), but it cannot be more than that.

“If they do not submit the application to the police and the police do not approve of the rally, that would pose a problem,” he told Malaysiakini at Parliament today.

Yesterday, PN Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said the Malaysia Day rally is part of a movement called “Gerakan Selamatkan Malaysia”.

It aims to gather as many Malaysians as possible, especially youths, to increase the people’s awareness of Zahid’s court case and the state of the country’s judiciary and judicial institutions, he said.

The rally in front of Sogo will be the first in a series of demonstrations, he added.

However, Kuala Lumpur police chief Allaudeen Abdul Majid was reported by The Star as saying this afternoon that the force has yet to receive a request from PN about the planned rally.

The English daily also reported that Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said any quarters who wish to hold such gatherings must apply for a police permit five days prior to the rally.

Ayob also pointed out that today is the last day for PN to submit its application to the police.

Aside from that, he said PN must also obtain permission from the Sogo management as well as the Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

‘Investigate if it’s illegal’

Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar asserted that the police have the right to launch a probe against the organisers of any gatherings that are against the law.

He was concerned that an illegal gathering would cause more controversies.

“It can threaten the peace of the nation. Therefore, I urge for any gatherings that are held not in accordance with the law to be investigated,” the DAP’s Batu Gajah MP told Malaysiakini at Parliament.

Sharing similar sentiments was DAP’s Ipoh Timor MP Howard Lee, who said that those behind a gathering that is not peaceful and illegal will have to be held accountable.

“I, personally, am a strong proponent for peace and legal assemblies.

“If it’s legal and peaceful, it shouldn’t be a problem,” he said at the sidelines of the six-day special sitting of the Dewan Rakyat today.

No interference

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli stressed that the administration will not have any part to play should the police decide to investigate PN’s gathering under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012.

“We (Pakatan Harapan) are in the government now and I think the public expects us not to interfere in how laws are enacted and enforced.

“Actually I have taken that stance since I became part of the government.

“I don’t interfere and the laws are written in such a way that the police have to follow the law to enforce it,” he said.

“If any party thinks that it is not done according to the law, there are avenues to challenge it,” he said when asked if the government would ensure that the police will not probe PN under the PAA over the rally.

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