Sabahans protest against new assembly law
Policemen watched a gathering protesting the Peaceful Assembly Bill, rampant land-grabs and the government’s refusal to initiate an RCI on illegal immigrants.
(Free Malaysia Today) – Sabahans have joined the growing legion of Malaysians against the controversial Peaceful Assembly Bill.
Yesterday some 100 activitsis and supporters of three causes including the anti-Assembly Bill gathered at the famed Mojuntin Square at the Donggongon township here.
At 11.30am the large group moved towards the statue where they stopped and sang the state anthem “Sabah Tanah Airku” under the watchful eye of about 30 policemen stationed around the square.
At the square they first laid three wreaths at the statue of the late Peter Joinod Mojuntin, “the golden son of the Kadazandusuns” before unfurling protest banners.
Mojuntin, a cherished leader of the Kadazandusun community who was from Penampang, perished in an unexplained plane crash near the Kota Kinabalu airport in 1976, together with other Sabah leaders including then Chief Minister, Fuad Stephens.
The leaders of the group then led the crowd to pay reverence to Mojuntin by bowing three bows before his statue and before laying the three wreaths.
They later unfurled a banner protesting the Peaceful Assembly Bill and hoisted placards demanding a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in the state.
They also protested the erosion of native customary rights (NCR) and the spate of land grabs.
Alongwith the the RCI and NCR issues, the controversial Peaceful Assembly Bill which lawyers have said was restrictive, has been a hot topic and the butt of jokes among ordinary Sabahans for several days now.
