THE tabling of the Peaceful Assembly 2011 Bill represents a step towards strengthening the sovereignty of the rule of law while upholding the freedom of fundamental liberties in Malaysia, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“This would help achieve the objective towards the implementation and adminis-tration of a legal system that is more just while preserving basic individual rights as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution,” he said when tabling the Bill for second reading.
“As far as appropriate, every citizen has the right to organise assemblies or to participate in assemblies peacefully,” he added.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the Bill was not to give the police more enforcement powers than they already have.
“Far from it. Section 27 of the Police Act does not allow assemblies to take place without a permit. Under this Bill, you don’t need a permit. You merely need to inform the police.
“We are actually abolishing Section 27.”
Hishammuddin was responding to criticism of the new Bill by opposition politicians and civil society groups, who claimed that it was worse than current laws.
Among the biggest complaints were the explicit banning of street protests and assemblies held within 50m of areas and structures designated as prohibited areas.
Hishammuddin argued that the Bill was drafted after close consultation by the Attorney-General’s office with his ministry and the police. “This new Bill is a landmark Bill.”
2012 Bar Council Subscription Click the link above to download Circular 072/2012 pertaining to the 2012 Bar Council subscription, including the payment guide and a set of Frequently-Asked-Questions.
2012 Hotel Corporate Rates Attending seminars? Going for a holiday? Click on the link above to check out the list of hotel corporate rates for Members of the Bar, which is updated regularly.
Bar Council Bookshop Read MORE … but pay LE$$! Members enjoy a 20% discount on LexisNexis publications at the Bar Council Bookshop. Click on the link above for the list of available titles.
International Malaysia Law Conference (26 to 28 Sept 2012) Hurry up! The countdown continues and the current promotion rate ends 30 June 2012. Don't miss what is going to be the best conference in the region! On top of that, if you sign up with 5 or more people from the same organisation, we will give you a 10% group discount. Click on the link above to register.
Talk on Summary Judgement (25 May 2012) Organised by the Selangor Bar Committee, this talk will take place at 5:00 pm, at the Selangor Bar Committee Auditorium, on 25 May 2012 (Friday). The talk will be conducted by Ramesh Supramanian. Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on Tax Issues in Financial Transactions (25 May 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this seminar, featuring S Saravana Kumar, will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 25 May 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Dialogue with Criminal Law Practitioners (26 May 2012) Organised by Bar Council, this dialogue will take place at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, at the Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 26 May 2012 (Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
Conference on Competition Law (31 May 2012) Organised by Bar Council with the support of LexisNexis, this conference will take place at 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, at Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel, on 31 May 2012 (Thursday). For more details or to register, please contact Vilashini Vijayan (03-2050 2095; vila@malaysianbar.org.my). Click on the link above for more details.
Talk on What Clients Want (7 June 2012) Organised by the KL Bar Practitioners' Affairs Committee, the talk, presented by Ong Eu Jin, will take place at 5:00 pm, at the KL Bar Auditorium, on 7 June 2012 (Thursday). Click on the link above for more details.
4th LAWASIA Family Law Conference, Penang (13 and 14 July 2012) Supported by Penang Bar Committee and the Malaysian Bar, this conference, themed “The New Global Family: Emerging Trends and Challenges to Family Practice”, will take place at Traders Hotel, Penang, on 13 and 14 July 2012 (Friday and Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
News 
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Circular No 109/2012: Be a Part of the Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee
