Did Street Protest Veteran Anwar Seek Permission Psm Asks Home Minister

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PSM has revisited the past when Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan championed street protests.
PSM deputy president S Arutchelvan recalled when Anwar organised street rallies alongside then-opposition figures, including current Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
“Did Anwar and Harapan obtain permission from the police or Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) under the Police Act to hold their reformasi rallies back then?” he queried.
“Certainly not, because the fight for rights and freedom of assembly are fundamental principles,” he stressed in a statement.
Arutchelvan’s remarks came in response to Saifuddin defending a police directive that rally organisers obtain approval from premises owners, as stipulated in the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
This issue arose after organisers of the Jan 25 anti-graft rally expressed surprise over the directive. The rally is set to begin outside the Sogo shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur and proceed to Dataran Merdeka.
Arutchelvan criticised the requirement as "ridiculous" and called for its amendment.
Saifuddin Nasution Ismail“For instance, if you want to hold a public assembly outside the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) building, are you expected to seek EPF’s permission? They would likely deny it - then what happens next?” he asked.
He further argued that the law obliges police to consult surrounding premises owners, most of whom would oppose gatherings due to potential disruptions to their business.
“This undermines the constitutional right to assemble, as enshrined in Article 10,” Arutchelvan said.
Facilitate, not obstruct
He also cited another example: “Would permission need to be obtained from the US embassy to hold a protest outside its premises?”
Since the Middle East conflict erupted, numerous protests were organised outside the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
According to Arutchelvan, the police's role is to facilitate public assemblies, not obstruct them.
S Arutchelvan“The police have been notified, so they should make the necessary arrangements to ensure the assembly proceeds smoothly. That is the essence of the Peaceful Assembly Act, introduced by former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak in 2012, following widespread opposition to the restrictive Police Act,” he stated.
Arutchelvan advised rally organisers to comply with the requirement of notifying the police but reminded them of their constitutional protections.
“If the police have objections, they can take legal action against the organisers after the event. However, they should not deny the right to assemble based on a technicality,” he concluded. - Mkini

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