Muda Sec Gen To Face Paa Charge Over Lcs Rally

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Muda secretary-general Amir Abdul Hadi will be charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA) tomorrow over his participation at the Aug 14 rally in Kuala Lumpur demanding answers on the RM6 billion littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal.
When contacted, Amir confirmed the charge 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.
"I'm not shocked but I am disappointed. No one should be charged just for a peaceful assembly," Amir told Malaysiakini.
Section 9(5) of the PAA states that an offender can be fined not more than RM10,000.
Meanwhile, Muda information chief Luqman Long said a group will be gathering at the Kuala Lumpur High Court tomorrow in solidarity with Amir (above).
"We will be in solidarity with Amir. A press conference will also be called tomorrow," he said in a media alert today.
The #ManaKapalLCS rally held outside the Sogo shopping complex 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 Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report 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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