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Peaceful Assembly Bill – Najib has probably created world history in the speed with which a “revolutionary” bill becomes reactionary within 24 hrs as to require at least eight amendments

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has probably created world history in the speed with which a Bill which he described as “revolutionary” became reactionary within 24 hours as to require at least eight amendments.

On Thursday, Najib told Parliament that the Peaceful Assembly Bill was “revolutionary” and “a giant leap” in the political transformation of Malaysia. But in less than 24 hours, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz was directed by the Prime Minister at Friday’s Cabinet meeting to review and amend the “revolutionary” Bill!

This is the latest proof of the haphazard, insincere and irresponsible manner in which Najib is trying to implement his “political transformation” programme – totally at variance with his pledge that under his premiership, the era of “government knows best” is over and that he would fully consult with all relevant stakeholders and the civil society on major reform measures for the country.

The amendments to the Peaceful Assembly Bill, primarily on and consequential to the reduction of the requirement of 30 days to 10 days for notification to the police for any assembly, are not acceptable to give approval to the Bill as they are not wide-ranging enough as there are also other provisions in the bill which strike at the constitutional rights to freedom of assembly.

Apart from the 30-day notice requirement, other objectionable provisions include the arbitrary powers given to the police to impose restrictive and unreasonable conditions for the holding of assemblies, the role of the Home Minister in cases of appeal, the unconstitutional ban on street protests, the list of prohibited areas or 50-metre vicinity disallowing the holding of assemblies, the ban on underaged children and the onerous and crippling fines for offences under the Bill, etc.

The test of whether the Peaceful Assembly Bill is “revolutionary” and “a giant leap” in the political transformation and democratisation of Malaysia is whether the civil society, human rights activists and the political opposition feel freer and more liberated to exercise the fundamental constitutional right of Article 10 on “freedom of assembly” under the new law or they feel more suppressed, restricted and conscribed than even under the regime of Section 27 of the Police Act 1967.

The Prime Minister must take full cognisance that a former Lord President and the country’s most outstanding and longest-serving Inspector-General of Police had both regarded Section 27 of the Police Act as unconstitutional and undemocratic in violating Article 10 on the fundamental liberty of freedom of assembly – expressed in the Police Royal Commission Report of 2005 of which Tun Dzaiddin was Chairman and Tun Hanif Omar Deputy Chairman.

The Police Royal Commission 2005 had recommended far-reaching amendments to Section 27 to uphold “one of the most basic and indispensable of the fundamental freedoms necessary for the functioning of a democratic society and is provided for in the Federal Constitution” but this recommendation of the Police Royal commission was ignored by the Barisan Nasional government for more than six years.

Now we have the Peaceful Assembly Bill with provisions which are even more inimical to the nurturing of a democratic environment fully respecting the human rights of Malaysians to freedom of speech, expression, association and assembly.

Najib has only one option when Parliament reconvenes on Tuesday if he is serious about his latest slogan of “political transformation” and democratisation – to withdraw the Bill or refer it to a Parliamentary Select Committee to engage all stakeholders, the civil society, human rights groups and the political opposition in a meaningful consultation and full engagement.

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28 Replies to “Peaceful Assembly Bill – Najib has probably created world history in the speed with which a “revolutionary” bill becomes reactionary within 24 hrs as to require at least eight amendments”

  3. The man likes to use words consultant use. I have yet to hear one single original thinking word EVEN in his cheating and scamming. How can you be a scam-artist without any original idea? Perhaps that is why KL is full of Nigerian scam artist and Iranian drug dealers – its just too easy for the likes of them..

  4. /The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has probably created world history in the speed with which a Bill which he described as “revolutionary” became reactionary within 24 hours as to require at least eight amendments./

    Jib,Jib,hurray!Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

  6. Whenever Najib tries to control Malaysians…the reactions are plentiful… against him and his party.
    Now 800 strong MTUC members in Johore pledge their supports to Pakatan Rakyat …purposely using the sentence….”You help me. I help You.”…to PR.
    Tomorrow…. hundreds of lawyers will march.
    A Bill takes 24 hours to pass.
    Murders and corruption cases takes years…to go to court.

  10. D King has advised Malaysians 2 always exercise moderation in all their practices; people should act in a civil manner in anything n not act rashly n cruelly towards any1
    Mata2, plz take note of d King’s advice

  12. May the FORCE be strong with all Malaysians…in the cities.
    May the Jungle People… keep yelling for freedom.
    Combine the yelling and the strong FORCE….gangsters and thieves will be like cows and bulls..all cornered ..no escape.
    After 13th GE…if the election is fair and square….no hanky panky….Anwar will be PM.
    It’s written in the stars….clouds….walls…and his fate.
    Najib trying to alter Anwar’s fate.
    If he is trying to do that..who are all Malaysians to him?

  13. BERSIH3 coming!!
    Najib wants a showdown?…then a showdown he will get.
    When more and more freedom are taken away…Malaysians will be FEARLESS!!!
    Najib….watch out for U students.
    Your godfather is always afraid of the most educated young Malaysians…are you?

  14. The FORCE against the Emperor and his adopted son…..and the Emperor dies of old age….and son confesses all sins…die naturally…out of
    heart attack…eating to much rich food}…smiling.
    Malaysia is finally free.
    Will it come?….sure it will.
    “Star Wars” have predicted it…..hahahahahahaha.

  16. Never ..never..never ever forget…we are voting UMNO b out for CORRUPTIONS and DOUBLE STANDARDS.
    This Bill is just trying to divert our minds.
    Let politicians…law makers…unionists deal with Najib.
    Voters stay calm and patient…for the D-Day.
    I go watch “Star Wars” in 3D ….fantastic.

  18. To the urban voters, this legislation is basically an insult to their intelligence but to the rural voters especially in Sabah and Sarawak, it does not mean much.

    However, if we tell the Johorean that this legislation mean that they can’t even protest at the NFC property in Gemas or their RM12m condos in Bangsar, then it means something to them..

  19. NR n UmnoB/BN just fooling around with d Bill, patch here patch there, nothing 2 worry 1, cos they know most Malays n many nonMalays r SIMPLETONs n COMPLIANT
    Kwai2 1 n easy 2 kow tim, n they will continue 2 vote 4 racist UmnoB/BN 2 protect their interests n KETUANAN MELAYU

  20. All kind of tricks he has.
    All kinds of ideas he has too.
    This way..that way…never straight way..he crawls like a crab.
    Roast this fatty killer crab….at All Souls Day and offer to TBH and Altantuya…to rest in peace finally.
    Fear of that….get Bill to fight for him.
    Bill will be dead in 5 minutes after 13th GE.
    Tons of fireworks imported…for the greatest celebrations.
    Dancing at Streets with joy.
    Even rural folks dance at roads…car drivers don’t mind to slow down….willingly.
    All want that….just vote UMNO b out and see if I am talking crazy or real stuffs.

  22. ///But in less than 24 hours, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz was directed by the Prime Minister at Friday’s Cabinet meeting to review and amend the “revolutionary” Bill!///

    This shows the poor quality of BN leadership.

  23. Have we not seen enough of their weird mentalities and behaviors?
    These are signs of a very afraid government loosing power.
    Why be afraid..55 years is a good record.
    The are afraid…because they have abused the power given to them….by stealing and plundering and keep promoting dirty race and religion politics.
    They are very afraid because..inspite of all the laws and police gathered to protect them…People Power is much stronger and demanding a change of government.
    For change…all crooks will be investigated and that’s what they are afraid most…to land in jail.
    Do not be fooled by these crooks.
    They are not a government for the people ..by the people and with the people.
    They are out to bribe people.create as many citizens from Aliens…who pledge loyalties to them.
    Just look at Sabah….more than 1 million Indonesians given citizenship…at a snap of a finger..and hundreds live and worked here for decades cannot get.

  25. If you surf the online news on articles about this bill and the coming UMNO AGM – the comments for UMNO AGM is EVEN longer – all negative. If election were to be held today or soon, it will be Tsunami II. It appears that Najib was the last bastion of grassroot detest for UMNO/BN that is now broken. PR will have no problem thrashing UMNO/BN unless they cheat so heavily it will lead to an Arab Spring.

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