Kuala lumpur: The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will facilitate the Himpunan Turun Anwar rally scheduled to take place in the capital on July 26. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stated that the police’s role is to ensure the safety and orderliness of all participants despite the absence of a requirement for rally organisers to submit prior notice to the police. This change follows a Federal Court ruling that declared Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 unconstitutional.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Saifuddin acknowledged that the court’s ruling has posed challenges for PDRM in planning adequate security measures. He explained that if organisers were still required to inform the police, details such as the venue and expected crowd size would allow for the deployment of personnel to facilitate the gathering. Without prior notification, the police must now fully mobilise all available resources to devise an appropriate strategy.
Despite these challenges, Saifuddin assured that PDRM will manage security professionally. He also reminded organisers and participants to adhere to the existing provisions of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012. Organisers must ensure that no dangerous weapons are brought to the rally, no speeches undermine the monarchy or religious harmony, and that children are not involved in the gathering.
Saifuddin stressed the importance of following these guidelines, noting that any police action taken should not be seen as a violation of freedom. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding the people’s freedom of expression, saying, “If they want to proceed with the rally, it’s their democratic choice because the government has never suppressed the people’s freedom of expression.”
On July 1, the Federal Court unanimously ruled that penalising organisers for failing to notify police five days in advance of a peaceful assembly is unconstitutional. The five-judge panel stated that Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act, which imposes fines for failing to give prior notice, constitutes a form of prohibition, not a permissible restriction under Article 10(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution.