The Perikatan Nasional Youth leadership will make its planned Sept 16 gathering a celebration of Malaysia Day.
This is opposed to their original premise of protesting the discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) handed to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
PN Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, and Gombak Setia assemblyperson Hilman Idham said this after being called into the Dang Wangi police station over the planned rally.
“We spoke to the police about the press conference that was held on Sunday prior to the rally. There are no problems. I spoke. Pasir Mas MP (Ahmad Fadhli) spoke.
“If we were informed that we could not (hold the gathering), we would not have been able to. But they (police) had no instruction to bar us from gathering. So we continue,” said Wan Fayhsal after they met with the police for one-and-a-half hours.
“It will be a civil gathering, a peaceful gathering. We celebrate Malaysia Day with the theme ‘Save Malaysia’.
“It is not a rally. It’s a gathering. We are not going to the road. No, we just gather with Malaysian flags. And we are going to buy kunafah, kebab, and McDonald’s around the Bukit Bintang area,” he added.
Wan Fayhsal said PN Youth had just consulted with the police to ensure the safety of the gathering.
“We work together with the police. Anything that comes up, we ask the police to ask us to coordinate. For that reason, we have a meeting tonight to go into more details so that everyone can attend safely. There will be no commotion, no political symbolism either.
“We will have white shirts and the Malaysian flags to celebrate Malaysia Day. Surely, that is a celebration? That is our motive and theme,” added Wan Fayhsal, who is the Machang MP.
The Sept 16 demonstration, dubbed the “Save Malaysia Rally”, was originally framed as a protest against the prosecution withdrawing corruption charges against Zahid.
Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) founder Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, said the programme will definitely continue.
“Tonight, we will have a meeting involving various NGOs, political parties, and activists. The results of today’s meeting with the police are also part of our input.
“That is why we will decide tonight to be in harmony and we will look for the best way for the voice of the people to be expressed on Malaysia Day.
“The expected location is definitely in the middle of Kuala Lumpur and we will announce tomorrow morning after our meeting tonight,” he told reporters.
Meanwhile, Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said for public safety and convenience, organisers should follow the guidelines.
Nik Nazmi, the Setiawangsa MP, was previously charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 for failing to give police 10 days’ notice before holding the post-election Kelana Jaya Blackout 505 rally.
“Fundamentally, in our Constitution, we talk about freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, but it is also subject to certain conditions. I think if they play by the regulations, it’s not an issue.
“The authorities also have an interest to ensure that it is done properly,” he said. - Mkini
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