Public assembly law follows international rules

(The Star) – The Peaceful Assembly Bill was drafted in accordance with international norms after the Government studied 12 Acts practised by other countries.

Thus, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said claims by some that it was more draconian than a similar law in Myanmar was baseless.

He clarified that those who wanted to assemble at designated areas could do so by just notifying the police within 24 hours before the event was held.

Only those who planned to do so at undesignated places were required to notify the police within 10 days before the event, he said.

“The 10 days’ notification is for the police to facilitate the peaceful gathering and to enable the authority to get the views of the surrounding community which will be affected by the assembly.

“For assemblies to be held at designated areas, the public has the right to assemble any time, even at short notice.

“The police cannot stop those who want to gather at designated areas,” he told a press conference yesterday after opening an international forum held in conjunction with the Umno general assembly.

Najib said designated areas where the public was free to assemble would be stipulated in the Act and would not impede public interest.

The Cabinet decided on Friday that several changes should be made to the Bill, including reducing the advance notice to be given to the police by anyone organising a public assembly to 10 days instead of the proposed 30 days.

Najib said the wordings in the Bill stipulated that notification must be made within 30 days but it could be any time shorter.

“This, however, has led to confusion. So we made it more specific by putting it at 10 days so there will be no more doubts and misinterpretation,” he said.

Najib, however, stressed the provision was not applicable to those who wanted to organise street demonstrations, adding the Government wanted to put the Act in place to allow the people voice their views in a peaceful manner.