Gerakan Youth today called for stiffer penalties including jail time for organisers of street rallies, blaming the phenomenon on the opposition.
Railing against the proliferation of street rallies such as the Bersih rallies for free and fair election, Youth chief Tan Keng Liang in his opening speech at the wing's annual general meeting today said the government's laws for "maintaining peace" were justified.
"Opposition allegations that the laws of our country under the Peaceful Assembly Act do not conform to the 'International Standard' is not true, and is just meant to confuse people.
He said the Universal Declaration of Human Rights also made provisions for countries to maintain peace as it does for peaceful assemblies.
"Therefore, Gerakan Youth recommends the punishment for streets protests be stiffened," said Tan.
This, he said, includes raising the maximum fine of RM10,000 for organisers to RM50,000, and jail sentence up to six months."
Tan urged the Home Ministry to take note of the matter "with immediate effect as a matter of national interest".
While he mentioned the red shirts rally on Sept 16 as inappropriately-timed during Malaysia Day celebrations and an "embarrasment" as a result, his ire appeared to be trained largely on Bersih.
He complained that the present fine was too low, that organisers of Bersih were not deterred as they had managed to collect RM2.7 million in donations.
Toll companies must 'give back'
On a separate issue, Tan commenting on the controversial toll hikes said highway concessionaires should perform "national service" during troubled economic times.
He said this in reference to Thursday's toll hikes for 18 highways in the Klang Valley.
"In good times, you made your money. In bad times, please share some burden.
"You have been given lucrative concessions at a time when no other received it," he said.
Tan urged the government to get toll concessionaires that operate highways that are no longer just an alternative route to give a discount. -Mkini
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