Karpal takes to palace in symbolic bid to block PCA

DAP chairperson Karpal Singh has taken to the national palace in his bid to urge the Agong not to assent to the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (PCA) Amendment Bill.

Karpal was there this afternoon to submit a memorandum to get his message through.

While noting that the bill will automatically be passed within 30 days even without the Agong's assent, he said the symbolic move will be a sign of protest against the government.

"I urge Tuanku to do so (not to assent) as a sign of protest.

"... It will be a protest against the amendments that is draconian in nature and a violation of law and human rights," he told a press conference at the palace gates.

The memorandum was received by the Agong's senior private secretary Zubir Abdullah.

However, the media was prohibited from recording any footage or taking photographs outside the palace.

The PCA amendments will reintroduce detention without trial and was passed both at the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.

After the Agong's assent, it will be gazetted and become law.

However, law expert and former PKR candidate Abdul Aziz Bari warned that the Agong's intervention may lead to a constitutional crisis.