Stop 'intimidating' pro-Palestine rally attendees, group urges cops

The Malaysian chapter of the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS Malaysia) has urged the police to stop disrupting its weekly rallies.

“This harassment is an unacceptable abuse of power and a direct attack on the fundamental right to peaceful assembly,” it said in a statement last night.

It also called on Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to expedite reforms on the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, saying it is outdated and has led to censorship of voices.

“It is high time for the government to uphold and protect the right to peaceful assembly rather than stifle it through archaic regulations and abusive practices,” it added.

The group has been holding its “Jalan-Jalan Palestine” rallies on Saturday nights in Bukit Bintang, where participants are encouraged to attend wearing Palestinian-themed attire.

This is to show solidarity with Palestinians facing reprisals from Israel following Hamas’ attack on Oct 7 last year. The Gaza Health Ministry claimed on Tuesday that 38,713 have been killed in the Gaza Strip alone since hostilities escalated.

Photos and videos of such solidarity rallies also showed participants holding up placards and chanting slogans as they moved along the sidewalks of Bukit Bintang.

Exercising right

BDS Malaysia said it has complied with all relevant laws by notifying the police five days in advance of each rally.

In addition, the routes were planned to remain on public roads to ensure no trespassing or stopping on private establishments.

It insisted the participants were merely exercising their right to assemble peacefully under Article 10(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution and were not in violation of any law.

“Despite our compliance, the police have been summoning attendees to the station for investigation, falsely claiming that our rallies lack permits and that the organiser is breaking the law.

“This misinformation is creating unnecessary anxiety among participants and is a clear example of the authorities’ blatant abuse of power,” it said.

BDS Malaysia stressed that police permits are no longer required for such assemblies and organisers only need to give police advance notice of the event.

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