I know the law, Zaid tells IGP on anti-PM rally

Despite the warning from the police chief to desist, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim said that he will go ahead with his plan to hold a gathering to call for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s resignation.

He stressed that as a man of law - as police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said he was - he will ensure that the gathering will be held within legal confines.

"I know the law and we will do things legally. I am 65 years old already and I also don't want go to jail," Zaid told Malaysiakini.

Khalid yesterday warned Zaid about proceeding with his plans, reminding him that as a lawyer he should know what lies within and without the legal boundaries.

Khalid had said that the removal of a prime minister can only be either through a general election or a vote of no confidence in Parliament, and any other means than those would be illegal.

Zaid, however, countered that everybody was obligated to follow the law, including the police themselves.

"The police must also act within the law," said the former minister.

'Right to gather'

He said that people should always be able to express their views through many ways, including gatherings.

"We can express our views; we have rights. If you don't want to join us, that is your business.

"But you cannot tell us how to feel about Najib. We have the right to gather and to express our opinion," said Zaid.

He said the police should not feel worried when people wanted to express their views within legal means.

Zaid yesterday proposed that a gathering be held on March 27 to call for Najib's resignation.

His announcement came as Najib continues to face brickbats from both sides of the political divide, but the PM continues to weather a storm of controversies that dogged his administration.

Critics have called for his resignation though Najib continues to claim it would be wrong for him to step down as he is still serving the people's mandate from the last general election.

Najib has also moved to purge his own party from dissenters, used an arsenal of restrictive laws to crack down on critics, and curtailed the media, including blocking access to online sites critical of his rule.

Frustration with the inability to express dissent has led many to consider such means as espoused by Zaid to pile pressure on the PM. -Mkini