KUALA LUMPUR - THE transformation from unlawful assembly,
including street demonstrations, to peaceful assembly is in motion in
Malaysia to promote greater democracy.
![En route to greater democracy in Malaysia: OR MORE NAJIB INSINCERITY?]()
Principal assistant director, legal and prosecution division of the
police Criminal Investigation Department, Senior Assistant Commissioner
Datuk Razali Basri said a peaceful assembly "allowed for expression of
views, defence of common interests, preservation of minority identities,
maintenance and development of culture and creating a tolerant
society".
"It is, however, subject to restrictions deemed necessary such as not bringing children, especially if the assembly is for advocating a cause and involved risks," he said in his paper "Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012: The Way Forward" at the Conference of Law Reform For Safety and Human Rights here yesterday.
Razali said the recent KL Rally last Saturday saw the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 being put to test.
"The transformation to the PAA has been a steep learning for the police. It should be noted that there were no enforcement or arrests by police at Saturday's rally."
He said there have been 48 assemblies since the PAA came into effect and police were still putting the act to the test.
Another panellist at the session, American University Washington College of Law, law professor and associate dean, Professor Stephen L. Vladeck said freedom of speech was paramount to the country's free assembly practice.
He said even if the US government wanted to restrict anyone who criticised it, it must provide a valid reason to justify its actions.
Vladeck said Malaysia's Peaceful Assembly Act was a good step forward for the country.
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Principal assistant director, legal and prosecution division of the
police Criminal Investigation Department, Senior Assistant Commissioner
Datuk Razali Basri said a peaceful assembly "allowed for expression of
views, defence of common interests, preservation of minority identities,
maintenance and development of culture and creating a tolerant
society"."It is, however, subject to restrictions deemed necessary such as not bringing children, especially if the assembly is for advocating a cause and involved risks," he said in his paper "Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012: The Way Forward" at the Conference of Law Reform For Safety and Human Rights here yesterday.
Razali said the recent KL Rally last Saturday saw the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 being put to test.
"The transformation to the PAA has been a steep learning for the police. It should be noted that there were no enforcement or arrests by police at Saturday's rally."
He said there have been 48 assemblies since the PAA came into effect and police were still putting the act to the test.
Another panellist at the session, American University Washington College of Law, law professor and associate dean, Professor Stephen L. Vladeck said freedom of speech was paramount to the country's free assembly practice.
He said even if the US government wanted to restrict anyone who criticised it, it must provide a valid reason to justify its actions.
Vladeck said Malaysia's Peaceful Assembly Act was a good step forward for the country.