Ex Mp Urges Home Ministry To Teach Cops Rally Permits No Longer Needed

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A former PKR lawmaker has urged the Home Ministry, as well as Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain, to teach the police force that permits are no longer required for rallies.
Ex-Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah said this is because as per the Peaceful Assembly Act - which was enacted 12 years ago - demonstration organisers need only notify the police in advance of the rally.
This was originally 10 days but was shortened to five in 2019.
“It is time that the police familiarise themselves with the Act.
“The Home Ministry and the IGP must correct the police and ensure that citizens are able to exercise their rights and freedoms.
“Further, I strongly recommend that police be trained again in dealing with assemblies as well as have a much more complete understanding of what human rights means in a democratic society,” Maria said in a statement yesterday.
She was responding to news that police had refused four times to accept a notice for the Women’s March Malaysia (WMMY) 2024 to be held in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
The WMMY organisers will be meeting the police again today to get them to accept the notice.
Maria - who led two Bersih rallies previously - said the police's conduct was unacceptable.
Since the Peaceful Assembly Act was introduced, police have continued to maintain that police “permits” need to be issued before allowing protests.
Freedom to assemble is enshrined under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution. - Mkini

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