Anti-Lynas rally organisers Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) has denied breaching the law by holding the rally at Taman Gelora today.
Speaking with Malaysiakini, SMSL chairperson Tan Bun Teet said the group had applied with Kuantan Municipal Council three weeks ago to hold the rally at the tourist spot.
"There was no reason for the municipal council to keep us waiting for so long without any response," he said.
"Furthermore, no other party was using the stage (at the rally venue)," he said, adding the municipal council did not come back to SMSL on its application status.
The protesters did not breach any law by holding the sketches and images of the country leaders, he said.
Tan said that the portrayal of Pakatan Harapan leaders by putting up their images and sketches on stage was merely melodrama and not criminal defamation as claimed by the police.
"We did not slander them but we were jeering them for their u-turn (on Lynas).
"They must have some cognitive issues if they cannot differentiate between slandering and jeering.
“If any of the MP says we are defaming them then they are indeed making an issue out of this," he said.
Tan was responding to Kuantan district police chief ACP Mohamad Noor Yusof Ali who said the police will probe the anti-Lynas rally and call up the organiser for allegedly breaching the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
Mohamad Noor said he was informed that the rally had not received consent from the owner of Taman Gelora.
"This rally did not meet the provisions under the Peaceful Assembly Act. I wonder why they still continued with the rally when all the necessary requirements had been clearly stated.
"We will file a police report to enable an investigation and appropriate action will be taken according to the law after referring to the state police chief," he was quoted as saying by Bernama today.
He said so far, the organisers had only met one of the requirements, which was to give the police 10 days notice.
In addition to the banners, the rally attendees also carried posters of pictures of national leaders whom they claimed have failed to fulfil their promises to close the Lynas plant as stated in their manifesto for the last general election.
China Press quoted the Mohamad Noor for saying the police looking at criminal defamation aspects by the usage of the leaders' images. - Mkini
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