KUALA LUMPUR - The Johor Baru sessions court has found R Yuneswaran, the PKR state executive secretary, guilty of breaching the controversial Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
The 27-year-old Yuneswaran was fined RM6,000 or 3 months jail in lieu of which for failing to give police the required 10-day notice before holding the Black 505 rally in Puteri Wangsa, Ulu Tiram, Johor at around 8.30pm on May 15.
The rally had drawn more more than 30,000 people who refused to disperse despite the heavy drizzle. They clapped and roared with approval each time the Pakatan Rakyat leaders led by Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Chua Jui Meng and Salahuddin Ayub spoke.
The Black505 rallies had unnerved Prime Minister Najib Razak as the strong attendance at the impromptu street protests revealed how unpopular he was with the masses especially with the non-Malays.
Not surprisingly, the authorities have panicked and reacted with unnecessary harshness, launching a crackdown on the Black505 organizers. However, instead of scaring the people, it has created more scorn and disrespect for Najib's style of heavy-handed governance.
Protest
Under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, Yuneswaran was liable to a maximum fine of RM10,000.
He has decided not to pay the fine as a sign of protest and will be taken to prison today.
“We will be filing an appeal by tomorrow. Yuneswaran decided not to pay the fine today but he has not mentioned whether he will settle the fine within the next few days,” said his lawyer Hassan Abdul Karim.
Malaysia Chronicle
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