THE police have told the public not to take part in this Saturday’s protest organised by the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) at the Sogo shopping complex 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. 

“To date, police have yet to receive a notice. 

 “The police have also advised the organiser against holding this gathering, or risk stern action being taken. The public is also advised against joining it,” the district police chief said. 

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

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

Its central executive committee member Nurainie Haziqah Shafii said the ‘Lives First Before Elections’ protest is set to take place outside the Sogo shopping complex on Saturday.  

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

“We, Muda, wish to clearly demand that no general election will be called this year,” she said.  

Traditionally the monsoon falls between October and February and often the hardest hit regions with floods are in the Northern and East-coast states. 

Nurainie also chided Barisan Nasional 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 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.   

He said people had to wait just a little bit longer as GE15 would be called after discussions with BN’s top five leaders. – September 22, 2022.