PUTRAJAYA is being hypocritical by not allowing street rallies as many individuals in the government of the day had taken part in “illegal” demonstrations in the past, activists and think tanks said.

They also questioned Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s silence on the matter, since he was once an icon of street rallies after his sacking from the cabinet in 1998.

Last week, police stopped a group of farmers and representatives from Parti Sosialis Malaysia from marching towards Parliament. The group, however, brought down barricades and handed a memorandum to officials outside the Parliament building.

Then over the weekend, Perikatan Nasional (PN) members gathered in Kuala Lumpur in protest of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s discharge not amounting to acquittal of his 47 corruption charges.

Police rejected the notice submission by organisers of the “Save Malaysia” rally grounds the notice did not comply with the provisions of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain had said the rally’s organisers left out certain details in their initial submission.

“The organisers know the legal implications. This is not the first time (for them),” he said.

Following the rally, police said they have identified 25 participants of the “Save Malaysia” rally and asked them to give their statements.

Iman Research programme director Badrul Hisham Ismail said the Madani government was hypocritical in emulating the behaviour of the previous administrations.

He said it is clear that reform agendas are not a priority for Anwar.

“It is clear-cut hypocrisy. The reason given that it is up to the enforcement agencies to act is a lame excuse,” Badrul said.

He said if the government wanted more time to implement the reforms that were promised, then they should give the people a proper timeline.

“Whether we agree or not is another matter. The government and police should have accommodated the rally.

“It is their right to assemble peacefully and this was stressed by many Pakatan Harapan leaders previously.

“So now, they should tell the police to help get things done smoothly and they should protect this freedom of speech and freedom to assemble,” Badrul said.

Prominent PH leaders such as Anwar, Mohamad Sabu, Adam Adli and Gobind Singh Deo have all fought for freedom of speech and led countless street protests over the years.

Many PH leaders have also been detained and were charged in court for organising rallies. They had also previously slammed the police for using force to disperse rally-goers.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia’s Sevan Doraisamy demanded an explanation from Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail for blocking the farmers’ rally.

“Police cannot stop people from marching to Parliament because it is a public place. Even the Peaceful Assembly Act does not stop anyone from demonstrating,” Sevan said.

‘Madani government has no principles’

Former PKR activist Abdul Razak Ismail accused the government of having no principles after coming into power.

Razak, who was among the first to take to the streets during the “Reformasi” movement more than 20 years ago, now believe the movement is dead.

“Once they tasted power, the agenda was no longer there. They are now the same old regime they themselves fought against 20 years ago.

“The freedom they spoke about was only rhetoric. What reforms are there now? Everything is now dead,” said the Otai Reformis founder.

Ex-deputy law minister Mohamed Hanipa Maidin of Amanah recently urged the government not to act against PN members who took part in the “Save Malaysia” rally.

The former lawmaker said he used to defend many PH leaders against the Peaceful Assembly Act.

“After all, most of the cabinet members are ‘graduates’ of the ‘School of Peaceful Assembly’ and I used to be their lawyer,” Hanipa said in a Facebook post.

Respect peaceful rallies

Meanwhile, human rights group Article 19 reminded the government of their obligation to respect the freedom of assembly.

Its senior programme officer, Nalini Elumalai, said Putrajaya should not prevent, hinder, or restrict the right to protest.

She added Anwar should protect those who want to exercise their right to protest.

“This includes adopting measures necessary to prevent violations by third parties, and should establish an enabling environment for the full enjoyment of the right to protest.

“This includes providing effective remedies for violations of all human rights embodied in the right to protest,” said Nalini.

The activist said protests have often inspired positive social change and improved protection of human rights, and continue to help define and protect civic space in all parts of the world.

“Yet governments around the world too often treat protests as either an inconvenience to be controlled or a threat to be extinguished.

“Regardless of how inconvenient it is for the government of the day, they are obliged to facilitate and encourage freedom of assembly and expression to flourish, to show that they are for democracy and checks and balances,” she added. – September 20, 2023.