'Ask relevant minister', Rafizi says on Jan 25 anti-graft rally

Summary

• Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli declines to answer a question about the upcoming anti-corruption rally.

• He tells the press to let the "relevant minister answer".

Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli today declined to answer a question on the upcoming anti-corruption rally.

"No, I think as a matter of discipline, let the relevant minister answer," he told the press after an engagement session with the service industry over the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

Rafizi (above) was likely referring to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who had recently insisted that the rally's organisers - Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah - must get consent from venue owners to hold the protest.

The Anwar Ibrahim-led federal administration has come under heavy criticism for barring the upcoming rally in Kuala Lumpur scheduled on Jan 25.

The rally will start outside the Sogo shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur before proceeding to Dataran Merdeka.

Saifuddin had been commenting on a police directive to obtain consent from venue owners and occupants ahead of the rally, without which the police claimed renders the legally required notice incomplete.

Saifuddin said the secretariat should acquire permission from the Sogo mall owners and in the case of Dataran Merdeka, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

However, this was countered by lawyer New Sin Yew, who said that the law is clear that the square is a public space which DBKL only oversees.

Besides Saifuddin, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil also sided with the authorities.

‘Appreciate criticisms’

However, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim, who is from PKR - the same party as Rafizi, Fahmi, and Saifuddin - said earlier today that the government should appreciate criticisms against it.

The rally is a follow-up to the student-led New Year's Eve rally in Sabah, which protested against state politicians implicated in an ongoing graft scandal.

This came after a Malaysiakini exposé on Sabah assemblypersons allegedly discussing bribes to obtain mining prospecting licences, which also implicated Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.

Hajiji and others linked to the scandal have denied any wrongdoing, claiming it to be a conspiracy to destabilise the state government ahead of the state polls.

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