ANY action taken against the organisers of the planned “Selamatkan Malaysia” protest led by Perikatan Nasional (PN) will be a resounding affirmation that the Anwar Ibrahim-led government has abandoned reform, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) said today. 

LFL director Zaid Malek said the rally on Saturday to protest Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s discharge from his corruption trial must be allowed to take place without police interdiction or harassment. 

His statement came following a warning yesterday from Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.

Ayob Khan said police will take action against the organisers and participants of the “Selamatkan Malaysia” protest in Kuala Lumpur.

He said this was because police had not received a permit application from the organisers as required by law.

Zaid today called the statement “plain and calculated harassment and intimidation, as there has been no indication whatsoever that the rally will not be peaceful.” 

He said the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA), on which the prohibition is based, is an unconstitutional law that violates the right to peaceful assembly stated in article 10(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution.

He said the Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders should be well aware of the repressive nature of the PAA.

“They were similarly harassed and persecuted for purported violations of the PAA when they organised rallies whilst they were in the opposition. It is for this reason that PH had previously called for the abolition of the PAA,” said Zaid.

“But now the persecuted PH appears to have turned persecutors, turning the same law its once criticised.” 

Zaid said it is appalling to note that several PH ministers and MPs have echoed the police warning.

“All this despite the fact that there is no indication whatsoever that the rally will not be peaceful,” he said.

“Has PH totally abandoned all of its previous beliefs and convictions? 

“The irony that a government led by Anwar Ibrahim is now preparing to clamp down on peaceful assemblies is clear to anyone even remotely acquainted with the Prime Minister’s political history and his ‘Reformasi’ movement. 

“Reformasi was born in the streets and thrived by defying the Police Act and PAA to hold anti-government rallies.

“The pre-rally threats and public warnings to those planning the rally are the same tactics once used by the old BN governments against Pakatan Rakyat and later Harapan. 

“Harapan and its leaders are themselves becoming what they once derided as oppressive and high-handed.” – September 12, 2023.