KUALA LUMPUR – Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) has questioned whether Malaysians now need prior approval merely to read or discuss books in public, following the disruption of a peaceful community event at Dataran Merdeka on May 9.
The group was responding to an incident involving Diskusi dan Buku Jalanan—a casual, open-air reading and discussion session—during which organisers were approached by enforcement personnel believed to be from the police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
According to Liga Mahasiswa Malaysia and the Federation of Malaysian Youth (Federasi Pemuka Kebangsaan), who jointly organised the event, between eight and ten officers—some in DBKL uniforms and others in plain clothes—questioned whether notice had been given to the district police chief, and ordered the group to disperse by 10pm.
LFL director Zaid Malek criticised the authorities’ actions, arguing that small-scale, peaceful gatherings are protected under Article 10(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution and regulated by the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA), which does not criminalise assemblies solely for lack of notice.
“What the students did was not illegal, and we strongly condemn the actions of the authorities,” Zaid told Scoop.
“Dataran Merdeka is a public space, and members of the public have a constitutional right to peacefully assemble.”
He added that the requirement to notify police under the PAA does not mean that failure to do so renders an assembly unlawful.
“It’s not as if they were staging a protest—they were simply reading books and holding discussions. There weren’t even large numbers involved, such as 30 or more, which might raise concerns,” he said.
“Are we now saying young people cannot even read in public without official permission?”
The PAA, which replaced Section 27 of the Police Act 1967, requires organisers to notify the Officer in Charge of the Police District (OCPD) five days in advance, but does not automatically deem assemblies illegal for failure to do so.
Zaid further stressed that enforcement personnel must be properly informed of the law to prevent the suppression of civil liberties.
Meanwhile, political analyst and human rights advocate James Chin echoed LFL’s concerns, urging the public to understand and assert their rights when confronted by authorities.
“The rakyat must be aware of their rights and the laws that safeguard peaceful assembly,” he told Scoop.
“Under the current Madani government, there is supposed to be greater space for expression—this must be reflected in the conduct of enforcement agencies.”
Chin added that Malaysia must move beyond arbitrary enforcement and bureaucratic intimidation, especially when no issues of public order or safety are involved.
DBKL has since reminded the public that all events at Dataran Merdeka must obtain prior approval from the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif.
Despite the disruption, organisers have pledged to continue the Diskusi dan Buku Jalanan series in the coming weeks, encouraging more Malaysians to reclaim public spaces through reading and open dialogue. – May 15, 2025