MUDA will proceed with its protest outside Kuala Lumpur’s Sogo shopping complex on Saturday despite the police’s warning that it was illegal, Amir Hariri Abd Hadi said.

The Muda secretary-general said that rights to gather, protest and to voice out are protected under the constitution and that the authorities should not prevent it. 

“My point is that gathering, protesting and voicing out are rights protected under the constitution,” Amir told The Malaysian Insight. 

“The government and the police cannot block the people from voicing out each and every time. 

“People are supposed to have their rights to rally in a peaceful manner,” Amir added. 

He said article 10(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution guarantees citizens’ right to peaceful assembly without arms. 

However, under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, any organiser of a gathering has to notify the district police chief in writing at least five days before.

Earlier today, police advised the public not to take part in this Saturday’s Lives first Before Elections organised by Muda in the capital. 

In a brief statement, Dang Wangi police chief Noor Dellhan Yahaya said the organiser had yet to notify the police about the gathering as required by law.  

Despite not notifying officially through writing, Amir contended Muda’s announcement made yesterday was sufficient notice to carry on with the gathering. 

“Instead of disrupting and disturbing us, police should just provide the necessary protection on that day,” Amir said.  

Yesterday Muda said it would hold a protest on Saturday to object to the 15th general election being called during the monsoon season.

“We are reminded of the massive floods that happened last November, December until January this year, where to date no proper mitigation plans have been announced.

“We, Muda, wish to clearly demand that no general election be called this year,” Muda’s central executive committee member Nurainie Haziqah Shafii said.

The monsoon period usually falls between October and February and the northern and east-coast states will be the hardest hit by flooding. 

Nurainie also chided Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on his irresponsible remarks that BN was prepared to face the floods when campaigning.  

“The remark was made even though Zahid and other BN leaders have full knowledge that floods will usually occur at the end of the year.   

“Such statements (by Zahid) do not in any way reflect the empathy of ‘Keluarga Malaysia’ as espoused by the prime minister,” she said.   

On September 17, Zahid said that despite the possibility of floods, BN was willing to go ahead with its election campaigning.  

He said should the election be held at the end of the year, the BN Youth election machinery would be ready to provide assistance in flood-hit areas.   

Ketereh MP Annuar Musa said that Zahid’s remarks were misinterpreted. 

The communications and multimedia minister said the Umno president’s statement was actually referring to the preparedness of BN election machinery to face the polls in any given situation.  

Last week, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Malaysians would not have to wait long for the announcement of the general election. – September 22, 2022.