The newly-tabled Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011, is a way to prevent Pakatan Rakyat leaders from explaining issues to people through ceramah, charged opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
He said an assembly in the form of ceramah or dialogue requires official approval 30 days before the scheduled gathering.
"It's introduction is to limit the mobility of Pakatan Rakyat MPs to explain various issues of abuse of power, corruption and mismanagement by the government to the people.
"
The new law, when passed, is another way of preventing Pakatan leaders from going down to the ground to explain as approval had to be gained 30 days before the assembly is held," said Anwar, adding that the ceramah was an effective way to get to the people.
Anwar (left) who is also Permatang Pauh MP, said the Peaceful Assembly Bill proposes a fine of up to RM20,000, a move seen as aimed at dragging Pakatan MPs to court if found to have organised ceramah or assembly without approval.
The Bill, which was introduced for its first reading on Tuesday by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz, and is being brought for its second reading today by Premier Najib Abdul Razak, is facing protests from various quarters.
Yesterday, a peaceful assembly was organised outside parliament by civil society groups to protest the bill.
On Tuesday, the Malaysian Bar issued a strongly-worded statement calling for street protests to be allowed, and some quarters are calling the new law more repressive than before. They also sent a memo objecting to the bill.
Ending of Emergency welcomed
Anwar also said Pakatan supports the lifting of the three emergency proclamations, but this should have been done much earlier.
"We are happy that the prime minister accepts Pakatan's proposal to remove the Emergency Ordinance as when we tabled a motion in April 2011, it was rejected by the Dewan Rakyat speaker," he said.
He noted that Najib's stance differed from that of Nazri, who in reply to a question from Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, had said the Emergency Proclamation of 1969 in the government's view needs to be maintained because laws passed at that time related to public security would be affected.
Nazri had also said there could be a need for laws to be enacted immediately by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong when the Parliament was not in session.
Despite this, Anwar said Pakatan welcomes the move as it would open up democracy in the country.
He said an assembly in the form of ceramah or dialogue requires official approval 30 days before the scheduled gathering.
"It's introduction is to limit the mobility of Pakatan Rakyat MPs to explain various issues of abuse of power, corruption and mismanagement by the government to the people.
"
The new law, when passed, is another way of preventing Pakatan leaders from going down to the ground to explain as approval had to be gained 30 days before the assembly is held," said Anwar, adding that the ceramah was an effective way to get to the people.Anwar (left) who is also Permatang Pauh MP, said the Peaceful Assembly Bill proposes a fine of up to RM20,000, a move seen as aimed at dragging Pakatan MPs to court if found to have organised ceramah or assembly without approval.
The Bill, which was introduced for its first reading on Tuesday by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz, and is being brought for its second reading today by Premier Najib Abdul Razak, is facing protests from various quarters.
Yesterday, a peaceful assembly was organised outside parliament by civil society groups to protest the bill.
On Tuesday, the Malaysian Bar issued a strongly-worded statement calling for street protests to be allowed, and some quarters are calling the new law more repressive than before. They also sent a memo objecting to the bill.
Ending of Emergency welcomed
Anwar also said Pakatan supports the lifting of the three emergency proclamations, but this should have been done much earlier.
"We are happy that the prime minister accepts Pakatan's proposal to remove the Emergency Ordinance as when we tabled a motion in April 2011, it was rejected by the Dewan Rakyat speaker," he said.
He noted that Najib's stance differed from that of Nazri, who in reply to a question from Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, had said the Emergency Proclamation of 1969 in the government's view needs to be maintained because laws passed at that time related to public security would be affected.
Nazri had also said there could be a need for laws to be enacted immediately by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong when the Parliament was not in session.
Despite this, Anwar said Pakatan welcomes the move as it would open up democracy in the country.
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