Public warned against attending gathering near palace

(The Star) KUALA KANGSAR: Members of the public have been warned against attending an illegal gathering scheduled to be held next to Istana Iskandariah, the official palace of the Sultan of Perak, on Friday night.  

Kuala Kangsar OCPD Supt Zakaria Pagan said that the police had not issued any permit for the gathering organised by a group called Malaysians For Solidarity. 

"Those found at the gathering will be deemed as participants of an illegal assembly," he said. 

Supt Zakaria said those found in possession of a pamphlet on the gathering, or those found distributing it, were also breaking the law since the pamphlet did not carry the identity of the printer nor the publisher, an offence under Section 11 (2) of the Machine and Printing Act 1984. 

"Those possessing or found distributing such pamphlets can be jailed up to a year or fined up to RM5,000," he said, adding that those found participating in an illegal assembly could be charged under Section 27 (2) of the Police Act 1967. 

"They can be punished under Section 27 (8) of the Police Act where they are liable to be fined not less than RM2,000 and not more than RM10,000 and jailed up to a year," he said. 

"I urge members of the public not to attend the gathering because stern action will be taken by the police," he said. 

He said the gathering should not be held there not only for security reasons but the location was also inappropriate due to its proximity to the palace. 

Supt Zakaria also said even though the organiser of the gathering had not applied for a police permit, nevertheless he did receive an application from PAS on Dec 24 to organise a talk at the same place and time. 

"It's a political `ceramah' and after studying and giving due consideration to the application, I have decided against issuing a permit for the gathering supposedly to be attended by about 1,000 people," he said, adding that the applicant of the permit had been duly informed of the rejection.