Abim: Assembly Bill too vague, open to abuse

Muslim youth movement Abim has joined the slew of protest against the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011, pointing out that powers it will give to police in 'facilitating' public assembly as "too vague" and "open to abuse".

"After due consideration, we would like to express our opposition to the draft law and all the regulations and restrictions that it is attempting to impose," its president Amidi Abd Manan(left) said in a statement today.

The movement noted that many of the provisions in the Bill actually contravened Article 10 of the federal constitution that already protects and guarantee the right of a citizen to peaceable assembly without arms.

"Abim views seriously the concentration of power in the hands of police, granting them absolute discretion in imposing any conditions deemed necessary on public assemblies as stated in Section 15 of the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011, and powers defined under Section 21 to use any force and violence deemed necessary to quell a public assembly.

"We are concerned that both provisions (15 and 21), are open to abuse as the leeway given to police to control and quell public assembly, comes without clear guidelines to control and limit such wide ranging powers," he warned.

Abim also echoed others in questioning the need for a 30-day notice period prior to public assemblies and wants the government to explain why the Bill bans assemblies in houses of worship, to avoid misunderstandings.