'Right to assemble vs free speech': Petaling Jaya MP questions S'gor PAS Youth's rally move

 

PKR MP Lee Chean Chung has questioned Selangor PAS Youth for organising a rally in Shah Alam tomorrow to protest against Seri Kembangan lawmaker Wong Siew Ki.

This was over Wong raising the issue of pig farming in the Selangor state assembly, which the Islamist party chapter claimed was disrespectful to Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

In a statement, Lee pointed out that Selangor PAS Youth wants to exercise its right to assemble to deny Wong's right to speak.

"As the Seri Kembangan assemblyperson, Wong has the responsibility to bring up issues that interest Selangor residents to the state legislative assembly.

"The pig farming issue that she raised was a matter of public interest, between environmental conservation and (consumers') need for a protein source, which needs to be addressed in a fair, transparent, professional and rational manner.

"If this issue cannot be discussed in the august house, which other channel can the rakyat use?" Lee asked.

Defending right to speak

The Petaling Jaya MP recalled when he was suspended from the Pahang state assembly in 2014 for questioning the state government's annual budget.

Lee said he received the backing of PAS state assembly members, who were willing to walk out together with him to defend his right to speak.

"The question is, where is this kind of spirit in PAS now?

"Unfortunately, Selangor PAS Youth has failed to understand the meaning of 'rights and privilege' that the rakyat supported all this time.

"PAS only wants to use its right to assemble, to deny an assemblyperson's freedom of speech (to raise issues) for her voters," Lee said.

Wong Siew Ki at the Selangor state assembly

Last month, during the debate on the royal address in the Selangor state assembly, Wong urged the state government to consider modern pig farming systems and noted that the issue touched on equality rights under the Federal Constitution.

The remark was viewed by certain quarters as disrespectful to the Selangor ruler following a February decree that no such farming is allowed in the state.

Following this, Selangor PAS Youth announced that they would hold an anti-DAP demonstration dubbed the "Daulat Tuanku Rally" in Shah Alam tomorrow. - Mkini