KUALA LUMPUR: The Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (Act 736) will be amended to facilitate and support groups who wish to organise peaceful assemblies, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Speaking at the Dewan Rakyat, Anwar said several amendments would be done including to amend and remove the requirement to obtain venue approval as stipulated under the Act.
"Under Section 11 of Act 736, which states that organisers must obtain the consent of the owner or occupier of the assembly site,' in which is currently a point of contention will be removed from the regulations.
"Secondly, what is needed is to notify the police five days in advance so they can manage and ensure security; crowd control; and traffic management," he said during Prime Minister’s Question Time at the Lower House here, on Thursday (Feb 13).
Anwar was replying to a question from Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) on whether the government is prepared to amend the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 to allow citizens to gather peacefully without needing prior approval from the relevant authorities.
Anwar further elaborated that the amendment to the Act will be tabled in the next Dewan Rakyat sitting along with a moratorium on peaceful assemblies.
Such a moratorium would instead grant flexibility, requiring organisers of the assemblies to notify the authorities five days ahead.
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"While the action of the police is still stated under the current Act, hence it is understandable when they continue to perform their duties professionally.
“But the question now, we have exempted and decided to amend (the Act), and the police have been informed that while the amendment will be tabled, the moratorium will be enforced granting flexibility where they (organisers) notify five days ahead.
"This is good news from the Madani government, something that no previous administration has done," he added.
Speaking of anti-corruption protests, Anwar who is also the Tambun Member of Parliament said any ongoing investigations against university students would be dropped and that no action would be taken against them.
"The same will apply to the recent hunger strike and protest by families of detainees under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma), no action will be taken against them," he said.
