Police urged to lift Seksualiti Merdeka ban
PKR vice president N Surendran says Article 10 of the Federal Constitution guarantees freedom of expression which includes the right to express sexual orientation.
(Free Malaysia Today) – The Federal Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and as such banning Seksualiti Merdeka is unconstitutional.
PKR vice president N Surendran reminded the police and the Home Ministry that Article 10 of the Federal Constitution guarantees every citizen to freedom of expression.
Surendan called on the police to lift its ban against Seksualiti Merdeka saying it is unconstitutional to ban the event.
“And that includes the right to express sexual orientation. The police investigation and its ban of the event is nothing but a gross abuse of police power,” said Surendran.
Seksualiti Merdeka, an event conducted since 2008 to celebrate rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community, has drawn criticism from various quarters such as Perkasa and PAS, which claimed that the event promotes ‘unnatural lifestyle’.
Last week, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar announced that the event was banned. Subsequently, its organisers also stopped the event citing safety reasons.
However on Sunday, Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar said he was prepared to have a meeting with the organisers to hear them out.
Surendran, in the meantime, called upon the police to halt its investigations against Bersih 2.0 chairman S Ambiga and the event organisers, Pang Kee Theik, Irene Fernandez and Maria Chin Abdullah.
Calling it intimidation, Surendran said that the individuals had done nothing illegal as they were carrying out a lawful activity.
