By Proham | November 23, 2011
The Malaysian Insider

NOV 23 — Proham views with grave concern the proposed Bill on Peaceful Assembly fails to reflect the true spirit of human rights that is consistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Federal Constitution and the promise of the Prime Minister to institute democratic reform.

However, Proham acknowledges that the proposed bill recognises the citizen’s right to organise an assembly or participate in an assembly peacefully, although it makes it very difficult in practice.

The withdrawal of the permit to assemble is welcomed and reflects the PM’s commitment to further democratic reforms. However this is substituted by a whole range of pre-conditions and prior approvals, and restrictive legal provisions , including strengthening the powers of the police, that will severely discourage and dissuade the freedom of peaceful assembly, which is a basic human right.

Therefore, Proham proposes that the Federal Government delays the second reading of this bill and commits it to a Parliamentary Select Committee process, whereby there is maximum consultation with Members of Parliament, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) and civil society as a whole.

Proham truly feels that at this point of our nation’s history, we must build on our democratic tradition with consensus building from both sides of the parliamentary divide and the large majority of Malaysians. The rushing of such a bill can be construed as unnecessary unholy haste that will not be in the best interests of our nation and our people.

We appeal to the Federal government to consider Proham’s proposal to refer this bill to a parliamentary select committee and to consult our people more deeply and widely.
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* Proham is a grouping of ex-commissioners of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission.