Penang police have declared a pro-BN rally, scheduled to be held at the Esplanade tonight, illegal as its organisers failed to provide the required 10-days notice as stipulated under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA).
State police deputy chief SAC Abdul Rahim Jaafar said police only received a notice from the organiser, Yayasan Prithee Amal Malaysia, which is based in Padang Serai, Kulim, yesterday.
The rally, planned for 7.30pm tonight, is to express thanks to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak (left) and to call for the end to politicking, and a refocus on the country's development."As such, it does not comply with the 10 days requirement under Section 9(1) of the PAA.
"Failure to comply with this law can subject the organiser to police action under Section 9(5) of the act," Abdul Rahim said in a statement.
He said police have informed the organiser of the matter, and urged them to postpone the rally to another date.
Those who defy the law, face a maximum RM10,000 fine upon conviction.
When contacted, the foundation's president Parameswary Maniam said the gathering has been shifted to Hotel Continental, situated near Padang Kota.
"It will no longer be at Padang Kota. Seven NGOs from Kulim and Penang will be attending the session," Parameswary toldMalaysiakini.Yesterday, police exercised their powers under the PAA to summon Penang Pakatan Rakyat executive secretary Ong Eu Leong (second from left, in photo) to appear in court, where he claimed trial to the charge of failing to notify the force of the Blackout 505 rally held in the Batu Kawan stadium on May 11.
Ong is one of six Pakatan leaders who have been similarly charged under the Act.
The rallies, held in Kedah, Perak, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor, were organised by Pakatan to express anger over alleged electoral fraud in the recently-concluded May 5 general election.
Pakatan leaders have claimed that several incidents of fraud affected the election result, particularly in some 30 seats that they lost.
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