Muda secretary-general Amir Abdul Hadi has been charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA) at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court this morning over a rally on Aug 14 demanding answers on the RM6 billion littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal.
Bernama reported that Amir, 31, was charged under Section 9 (1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, punishable with a maximum fine of RM10,000 under Section 9 (5) of the same act.
According to the charge sheet, Amir, as the organiser of the gathering, had failed to inform the police officer in charge of Dang Wangi district five days before holding the assembly in front of the Sogo Complex in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, at 2 pm on Aug 14 this year.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge before Magistrate Fardiana Haryanti Ahmad Razali. The court granted him bail of RM4,000 and fixed Nov 3 for case mention.
Meanwhile, party information chief Luqman Long in a statement said the action against Muda activists showed that the government was getting scared as the rakyat are becoming aware of the scandal.
"If the government today can press such charges against Amir (above), then what would happen to other ordinary citizens for bravely voicing out against issues that do not only involve the people's money but are also detrimental to our country's security?
"The government should stop this political persecution against Amir and stop intimidating the rakyat," he said, adding that democratic space should be opened up so that people can speak up.
A group that calls themselves Jawatankuasa Kerajaan Gagal, in a separate statement, criticised the government's decision to prosecute the Muda leader.
They said authorities should realise that peaceful assembly is a right that is guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.
"We urge the prime minister and the authorities to instead take immediate legal action against those who are involved in the LCS scandal.
"Priority should be given to finding the culprits behind the LCS issue, not continuously intimidate youths and ordinary citizens who are only exercising their right to free speech," the group said.
Yesterday, Amir confirmed to Malaysiakini that he would be charged under Section 9(5) of the act for failure to submit a notice, at least five days before an assembly is to be held, to the officer in charge of the nearest police district.
Section 9(5) of the PAA states that an offender can be fined not more than RM10,000.
The #ManaKapalLCS rally held outside the Sogo shopping complex on Aug 14 saw the participation of some 200 people.
Three days later, the police questioned Amir and 12 others who delivered speeches during the gathering that lasted for about an hour.
Many of the protesters carried placards highlighting the alleged theft of public funds linked to previous and current ministers involved in approving the LCS project, which was first awarded to BNS in 2011 through direct negotiation.
A report by the Public Accounts Committee revealed a huge overrun in cost amounting to RM1.4 billion in the RM9 billion contract, with RM6 billion paid as of 2020. - Mkini
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