Malaysians rally against a bill that could hurt freedom of expression and the right to protest.
The Stream talks to Pek Koon Heng, director of the ASEAN Studies Center; Lim Chee Wee, president of the Malaysian Bar Council; and Malaysian MP P. Kamalanathan.
Thumbnail image: A Malaysian lawyer raises a sign during a protest against the Peaceful Assembly Bill in Kuala Lumpur November 29, 2011. REUTERS/Samsul Said
MP Kamalanathan, you said that the Opposition chose to exercise a boycott of the reading of this Bill. The Opposition are also exercising the fundamental liberty of those who elected them.. so it is not merely 'choosing' or 'chose to'. You are this stage even full of contradictions. Well, you may be a MP, but have you really, really, really felt the pulse of the rakyat? Or do you have ears for only those who suck up to you? Careful YB. Go listen and this time, really listen. You'd be astonished
rpremkumar1958 2 months ago
Mr. Kamalanathan (MP for Hulu Selangor):
We know you up to date and highly revered:
Can you list all the places in Malaysia where one can assembly peacefully without a police permit?
Please, sir. We want to know sir, we are a group of outdated Malaysians living under some coconut shell in some far flung countries of the world.
Keep up the Great work, Mr. Lim Chee Wee! 2 THUMBS Up woh, from us Malaysian Diaspora in Western Australia.
davidkam88 2 months ago
Dear Mr. Kamalanathan:
- 2 mass rallies on 9th July 2011 - 100,000 Malaysians (Malay, Chinese, Indian, etc) have proved beyond a SHADOW OF DOUBT they are mature enough , and are beyond the FEAR MONGERING tactics!
- SHAME on Malaysia for clamping down again on such human rights?
- Please dah, there is NO benefit to this bill to the RAKYAT!
- It is what it is - it's an ABSOLUTELY AGGRESIVE single master stroke to kill democracy and the freedom of the rakyat! SHAME! What a RUSHED job!
davidkam88 2 months ago
Mr. Kamalanathan:
You are so full of contradictions:
First you said that you are against Street Protest
Then you said that there is no problems with Peaceful Assembly!
But just yesterday, we have possibly the first notice in the world served through some law firm to 7 defendants (6 of them served through Facebook????????????) for a simply peaceful assembly this coming Saturday @ KLCC where the rakyat just want to gather, shop & pose for photo @ Xmas tree? Kill this OUTRAGEOUS Bill! SHAME!
davidkam88 2 months ago