KUALA LUMPUR — Police will facilitate tomorrow’ anti-graft demonstration in the city here, while rally participants must also do their part by following the law on public assemblies, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.
The matter was discussed at the cabinet meeting today, where he stated the ministry’s stand to allow the freedom of assembly as it is accorded to citizens under the Federal Constitution, he added.
“Police will facilitate the gathering because this is a government that respect the principle of the freedom of assembly and expression.
“I have also spoken to (Inspector-General of Police) Tan Sri Razarudin (Husain),” Saifuddin told reporters in Jeli, Kelantan, today.
However, the minister said that rally participants must also abide by the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 by not bringing sharp objects as well as children bellow the stipulated age.
The act states that children below the age of 15 cannot participate in a public gathering.
“We will facilitate but participants also bear the responsibility under the law not to bring sharp objects and underaged children.”
He added police will ensure a sufficient number of personnel at the gathering tomorrow, dubbed ‘Himpunan Rakyat Benci Rasuah’.
The minister’s remarks this afternoon come after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he had no problems with the anti-graft rally organised by civil society groups outside the Sogo shopping complex at 2.30 pm tomorrow. From there, demonstrators are to march to Dataran Merdeka.
Saifuddin said he briefed the cabinet on the rally as well as the ministry’s and police’s stand on the matter according to the Peaceful Assembly Act.
“The cabinet took note and agreed with my explanation,” he said.
The past few days ahead of the rally tomorrow saw police and rally organisers disputing each other over the need for organisers to obtain consent from venue owners, namely Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) for the use of Dataran Merdeka.
Several government lawmakers have also defended the organisers’ right to freedom of expression in holding the rally. – January 24, 2025