THE public prosecutor has withdrawn an appeal against former student activist Adam Adli Abd Halim, who was discharged last year for participating in the #KitaLawan rally in 2015. 

Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali today was informed that the Attorney-General’s Chambers was no longer pursuing the appeal. 

“Therefore, the appeal is struck out,” he said. 

Deputy public prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin did not give any reason for the withdrawal.

Adam Adli, 29, was freed by the Kuala Lumpur magistrate’s court in November last year after the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case.

He had claimed trial in September 2015 for violating the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012 after taking part in a street protest on February 28, 2015, from the Sogo shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur through Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, which ended at the Esplanade KLCC.

He was previously charged with fellow activist Mohd Fariz Abd Talib, who had been given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal due to his health condition. 

Adam Adli was also acquitted in February by the Court of Appeal for a sedition charge relating remarks he made calling for the toppling of the government a week after the 2013 general election.

“All his cases are resolved,” said his lawyer Eric Paulsen, who is also legal director of Fortify Rights. 

“This bodes well. It’s consistent with the promises of the government and we hope that the PAA would not be abused any longer and in due course, it should either be amended or abolished. 

“We should encourage democratic rights, such as the freedom of assembly and speech. Whatever Adam has been doing all these years has been consistent with the constitution.”

Adam Adli, who spoke to reporters outside the court, also called for other draconian security laws, as well as the Printing Presses and Publications Act, to be repealed. 

“I hope the new A-G understands that the court’s time should not be wasted on politically motivated cases that is wasteful for the taxpayers.”

Adam Adli said he would be continue his education at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris after being suspended for nearly six years, taking a course in Teaching of Engish as a Second Language (TESL). He currently works as a youth coordinator with the Penang government. – October 31, 2018.