Tweaking street protest law shows home ministry detached from reality, says Suaram

Suaram says the requirement to notify police days before a rally cannot be applied as public reactions are spontaneous.

PETALING JAYA: Rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has rejected proposed amendments to the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA), saying it shows the home ministry’s continued failure to carry out reforms promised by Pakatan Harapan (PH).

The group also urged Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to give up his post.

“With this absurd amendment, the home ministry has yet again shown Malaysians how detached it is from the reality on the ground and continues to fail the reforms promised by the PH administration.

“If the minister… is unable or unwilling to fulfil the reforms promised in PH’s manifesto, it is time for the minister to step down,” it said.

Suaram said PAA, among the laws opposed by PH when it was passed by the previous government, has no place in the “New Malaysia”, and warned that it would be used as “new tools for harassment by the state”.

The bill tabled yesterday by Deputy Home Minister Azis Jamman will, among others, shorten the 10-day notice period for organisers to inform the police to seven days.

It also seeks to convert the criminal prosecution of offenders to a compound issued by the district police officer.

But Suaram said the seven-day notice period cannot be applied when there is spontaneous public reaction to a certain issue.

“Public rallies are often spontaneous and reacting to current events and it may be impossible or unfeasible for a seven-day notice,” said Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy.

“As minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa recently experienced, a spontaneous rally can take place and the PAA should not obstruct such rallies,” he added.

Suaram said while it welcomed the proposal to compound offenders, there are conditions to be met by the local police before such action can be taken.

“This merely adds another layer to the current law where a person would have to pay a compound or face prosecution,” it said.

Suaram said a basic weakness of PAA is its imposition of “restrictions and conditions upon organisers of rallies”.

“Organisers that have fully complied with PAA should not face potential compounds and prosecution but be given the necessary support and assistance by the state to facilitate a peaceful assembly,” said Suaram. - FMT