Peaceful Assembly Bill tabled in Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 22): The Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 to allow citizens to organise and participate in assemblies peaceably and without arms
was tabled for first reading in Parliament here on Tuesday.

The Bill, tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz, is one of the efforts initiated by the government to
undertake the transformation of the existing legal framework, in relation to the constitutional rights of citizens to assemble.

It seeks to allow citizens to organise and participate in assemblies peaceably and without arms, subject to restrictions deemed necessary and in the
interest of public order and security.

Clause 4 of the Bill makes it clear that the right to organise or participate in an assembly peaceably and without arms does not extend to non-citizen, an
assembly held at any prohibited place and within 50 metres from the limit of the prohibited place. It is also not extended to a street protest.

The clause also provides that a person below age 21, cannot be an organiser while a child below the age of 15, cannot participate in an assembly. - Bernama