Azmin: Haji Najib lied in his Malaysia Day pledge

KUALA LUMPUR — PKR whip Azmin Ali accused Datuk Seri Najib Razak today of duping the public into believing the Peaceful Assembly Bill (PAB) would make Malaysia a more democratic nation when the proposed law actually puts the country on par with Zimbabwe.

As the Bill was being debated in the Dewan Rakyat, the Gombak MP said the proposed law was more oppressive when compared to the existing provisions for an assembly under Section 27 of the Police Act.

He said currently, assembly organisers could appeal to state police chiefs for a permit but under the new law, it is the home minister who holds “absolute power” to decide the outcome of any assembly.

“The Peaceful Assembly Bill is more oppressive than what we have now.

“The prime minister duped the rakyat, he lied to the rakyat approaching Malaysia Day with promises to make the country more democratic,” Azmin said to loud thumps on the table from the other lawmakers.

He said such an oppressive law “put Malaysia on the same level as Zimbabwe” and backed the call from his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) allies Datuk Seri Hadi Awang and Lim Guan Eng demanding the government withdraw their proposed law.

The PKR-PAS-DAP opposition pact said the government’s proposed law cannot be “saved” with just a few amendments.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said this was because of biased treatment by the police.

The Bagan MP pointed to Bersih 2.0’s peaceful rally last July 9 which turned violent due to police action.

Lim said in Penang, Umno members held weekly demonstrations without being told to disperse by the police.

The Penang chief minister said at some other demonstrations, police even “escorted” Mat Rempits to label him “racist”.

“DAP and PR oppose the Peaceful Assembly Bill for giving absolute power to the police that side with the BN,” he said.

“This Bill cannot be saved by any further amendments, and should be immediately withdrawn and revised,” he added.

-TheMalaysianInsider