IGP told to stop being arrogant

PKR vice president N Surendran urges the Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar to respect court ruling that renders the need to inform police on public gatherings as unconstitutional.

PETALING JAYA: Stop being arrogant and respect the court’s ruling, said PKR vice president N Surendran to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar today.

The PKR leader said this after English daily New Straits Times reported Khalid as saying that the public were still obligated to inform the police if they want to hold public assemblies and to comply with Section 9 (5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA).

“Section 9 (5) states it is an offence when one does not give a minimum 10 days notification to the police when holding a gathering. With the section being struck down by the court, there is no legal obligation for the public to notify the police.

“In short, it is no longer an offence if the gathering group fails to do so. Khalid should stop being arrogant and irresponsible on the matter,” said Surendran.

Yesterday, the Court of Appeal judges unanimously ruled that Section 9 (5) of the PAA, which criminalises anyone who fails to give a minimum 10 day’s notice before holding public gatherings, as unconstitutional.

Justice Mohammad Ariff Md Yusof, in presiding over Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) former strategic director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad’s appeal to strike out a charge under the PAA, said that the legislation was fundamentally flawed.

Surendran, who is also Padang Serai MP, said that the public could still notify the police on the holding of public gatherings, on a voluntary basis, to get police assistance in traffic control and other issues.

“Indeed, it is expected that most organisers of large gatherings will continue to notify the police of the date and venue of their gatherings.

“But the right to peaceful assembly cannot be subjected to a criminal sanction. I urge Khalid to abide by the ruling made by the Court of Appeal,” he said.