Malaysia to amend contested protest law

(AFP) – Malaysia will amend a new law banning street demonstrations, a report said, amid further protests on Saturday by critics who say the bill clamps down on their right to peaceful assembly.

Prime Minister Najib Razak has announced a slew of reforms aimed at expanding civil liberties to shore up support ahead of snap elections widely expected to be called next year.

But one of his initiatives, the Peaceful Assembly Bill, has come under intense fire for what critics say restricts the right to peaceful protest rather than safeguards it.

The Star daily quoted de facto law minister Nazri Aziz on Saturday as saying the Cabinet had agreed to amend several sections of the bill despite Mr Najib defending the law after tabling it in parliament this week.