Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz tabled the Bill for its first reading.
Among the main points of the proposed law are:
- 30 days' advance notice for assemblies, except for those in designated areas as defined by the home minister;
- after notification, the assemblies can proceed, unless there are objections from the police;
- no street protests are allowed;
- no protests in or anywhere in a 50-metre buffer zone around prohibited areas defined in a list, which includes hospitals, schools and places of worship;
- Section 8 allows a police officer 'to take such measures he/she deems necessary' to ensure compliance;
- Section 9(5) allows the police to fine organisers up to RM10,000 if no advance notice of a planned assembly is given to the police;
- Section 20(1)(c) allows police to arrest anyone who brings, allows to come or recruits children for an assembly;
- Section 21(3) allows the police to fine those arrested up to RM20,000;
- those under 21 years of age are not allowed to organise assemblies; and children under 15 are not allowed to take part in assemblies, except in cultural or religious events such as funeral corteges or events approved by the home minister.
However assemblies during election campaigns, and strikes, blockades and pickets do not fall under the Bill.
Slated for debate during its second reading some time next week, the Bill was tabled concurrently with another Bill to amend the Police Act, which will take away the need to obtain a police permit prior to organising an assembly.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had announced that there would be a review of Section 27 of the Police Act and the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the Restricted Residence Act during his Malaysia Day speech on Sept 15.
The Restricted Residence Act and the Banishment Act were repealed last month, while the ISA is expected to be dealt with in March next year.
Nazri had said over the weekend that debate on the Peaceful Assembly Bill has been scheduled for four days, on Nov 24, 29 and 30 and Dec 1.
In addition to the Peaceful Assembly Bill and amendments to the Police Act, four more amendments are tabled today affecting the Criminal Procedure Code, Evidence Act and Standards Act.
By Hazlan Zakaria
This Bill is =Dictatorship Govt.=BN=UMNO
ReplyDeleteHope that this bill will allow peaceful gathering after this.
ReplyDeleteWe'll just wait and see how it goes.
ReplyDeleteTitle more like "Against Peaceful Assembly..."!!
ReplyDeleteWhat are the conditions underwritten?
apa pun yang ingin dilakukan perlulah mematuhi peraturan.
ReplyDeletebayangkan sebuah negara tiada undang2 pasti huru-hara
ReplyDeletekita perlu mematuhi peraturan yang ada. jgn bertindak sesuka hati.
ReplyDeletesetuju dgn Ava, jika tiada peraturan, pasti huru hara akan timbul kerana mereka boleh melakukan sesuka hati mereka.
ReplyDeleteWalaupun ada yang tidak berpuas hati, tapi sekurang-kurangnya harus bertindak dengan waras dan tidak mengambil tindakan drastik seperti yang terjadi di negara luar.
ReplyDeleteWe can assemble but don't over react. Is it?
ReplyDeletekita tengok la nanti macam mana point2 ini dipraktiskan bila ada protes berkumpulan dimasa2 akan datang.
ReplyDeleteMost important no 'yellow' bisnes or thing ya!
ReplyDeleteBersih 3.0??
ReplyDeletekalau dilihat perhimpunan2 yang dijalankan sebelum ini, memang banyak sudah yang langgar undang2. patut ramai sudah yang kena tindakan.
ReplyDeleteIkutilah undang-undang kerana undang-undanglah yang memberikan keamanan dan ketenteraman sesebuah negara.
ReplyDeleteApa guna undang2 yang ada jika tujuannya adalah hanya untuk kepentingan politik yang btidak beramanah?
ReplyDeleteKata nak buat transformasi dalam kerajaan, mansuh ISA,AUKU tapi diganti pula dengan undang2 baru yang amat ketara digunakan sebagai alat politik!
Jika yang bmenentang hanya rakyat biasa yang tak berpendidikan tak apalah juga, tapi ini yg menentang ialah para peguam! Golongan yg arif tentang undang2.
Jadi Khairul, faham tak atau pura2 tak faham? Atau you ni memang geng keras dgn UMNO?