Government plans to allow public assembly at specific places without permit

PUTRAJAYA: The Police Act will be reviewed to allow the public to assemble in specific places without the need for a police permit, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said.

He said the law would be relaxed to provide the public with an opportunity to assemble but only at specific places, such as stadiums and “certain corners of the town.”

“This way, the public’s right to assemble will be recognised but at the same time, such assemblies will not affect others who are not involved in such activities,” he told reporters after a joint meeting with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz and Information, Communications, Culture and Arts Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim yesterday.

The tri-ministerial meeting was held to look into amending the Internal Security Act (ISA) and other laws. The high-level meeting was also attended by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.

Hishammuddin said police had on many occasions issued permits to those who wanted to hold gatherings at “secured places” like stadiums but could not allow the same privilege to “those who want to cause trouble and hold gatherings outside (on the streets).”

“The plan is to table the amendment to the Police Act together with the review of the ISA so the people can see that the Government is serious in addressing certain perceptions, even if it is just a perception,” he stressed.

Hishammuddin however declined to cite examples of places where the public could assemble without obtaining police permits, adding that the matter was raised for the first time at the meeting.

On the review of the ISA, Hishammuddin said there were many provisions of the Act that were being studied, including reducing the number of days that one could be detained.

“The task at hand is to make the Act, which has been around since 1960, more suited to the current situation and threats that we face in the wake of terrorism and related activities.

“Our aim is to ensure that the law is transparent,” he said.

Hishammuddin said that amendments to the ISA and Police Act were expected to be tabled in Parliament during its third session in December, adding that the three ministries would fine-tune what was discussed in the meeting.

“After that, we will hold a meeting with the stakeholders to explain the rationale behind amending the laws. It is important that they understand where we are coming from and what our intentions are.

“We want the rakyat to know that we have never abused the ISA. It is only used to protect the safety and interest of the people and the security of the nation,” he said.

Asked if the ISA would be renamed, Hishammuddin said the matter had not been decided, adding that the Restricted Residence Ordinance and the Public Security Act were also being reviewed. (TheStar)