Ngos Stage Protest Calling For Anti Hopping Law Ipcmc Bill

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Two civil society groups held a rally today protesting a scaled-down version of the police complaints commission bill and the government's delay in introducing the anti-hopping bill.
Supporters of Bersih and Suaram gathered at the National Monument Plaza at 8.30am this morning before walking to the outside of the Parliament building.
The protesters held banners that stated, "Introduce the Anti-Lomp Bill Now!" and "No IPCC, Accept IPCMC!".
They shouted slogans such as "hidup rakyat" and "no to frogs" as they marched, and police were dispatched to maintain the order of the rally.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Mas Ermieyati Samsudin came out of Parliament building at around 9.15am to receive memorandums from Bersih chairperson Thomas Fann and Suaram coordinator Wong Yan Ke.
Bersih's memorandum was to request the government to introduce the anti-hopping law as soon as possible to eliminate the political instability caused by party hopping.
The introduction of an anti-hopping law was also a part of the terms stated in the memorandum of understanding signed between the Ismail Sabri government and the opposition.
Bersih chairperson Thomas Fann handing over Bersih’s memorandum to Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Mas Ermieyati SamsudinMeanwhile, Suaram's memorandum was about rejecting the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC).
The Perikatan Nasional government withdrew the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill and announced the introduction of the IPCC bill instead. The major difference between the two is that the IPCC would only be able to carry out investigations and have no right to punish errant police officers.
Suaram called on the government to withdraw the IPCC bill and reintroduce the IPCMC bill to restore the credibility of the police.
Nearly 40,000 people and 37 NGOs signed the memorandum to introduce the anti-hopping law, and the memorandum to reject the IPCC was signed by nearly 50,000 people and 52 NGOs.
Restoring parliamentary democracy process
Both organisations handed the memorandums to opposition MPs requesting their support.
The memorandums were also received by DAP secretary-general and Seremban MP Anthony Loke; Amanah president and Kota Raja MP Mohamad Sabu; and Muda president and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
Amanah president and Kota Raja MP Mohamad Sabu receiving Suaram’s memorandum from its coordinator Wong Yan KeMohamad Sabu pointed out that the majority of the public had lost trust in Malaysia's democracy, and the introduction of the anti-hopping law was important to restore the process of parliamentary democracy in the country.
"The people have grown tired of the ever-changing political situation in Malaysia, which has resulted in several elections, all in return for low voter turnout, and they no longer believe in parliamentary democracy as practised in Malaysia.
"Therefore, the anti-hopping law is very important to restore the people's trust in democracy," he said.
Syed Saddiq expressed his full support for the anti-hopping law and the IPCMC bill. He believes that both are very important.
"If we want to empower the people, this is the only way to do it. I don't understand why the government is afraid to bring up the anti-hopping law," he said.
Midway through the rally, participants also observed a minute's silence for all the victims of the custodial deaths.
The rally proceeded peacefully and ended at 10.30am. - Mkini

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