KUCHING – Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan has confirmed that police have advised the party against proceeding with its planned People’s Parliament event on May 17, 2025, following the withdrawal of consent by Kuching North City Hall (DBKU).
The peaceful assembly, initially scheduled from 3.30pm to 6.00pm, has now been blocked by authorities, but Voon said the party would still gather at the venue to hold a press conference at 3.30pm.
“This is no doubt undemocratic and against the constitutional right to peaceful assembly,” Voon told Scoop today.
Speaking to the media yesterday, Voon explained the significance of the People’s Parliament, saying its foundational principle mirrors that of the elected Parliament.
“The principle about People’s Parliament and Elected Parliament is the same. It’s about democracy,” he said.
“Without people, there is no democracy; without democracy, there are no elections, no parliament. And without parliament, there is no constitution and no law.”
Voon, who is also a lawyer and a former police officer, said that in both systems, it is the people who determine who should represent them and what issues ought to be addressed.
“Democracy is about the voice of the people,” he added.
In the elected Parliament, the Speaker issues formal notifications for members to attend and debate proposed laws and motions. Similarly, under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, organisers of events like the People’s Parliament are required to notify police at least five days in advance.
“Unlike before, there is no longer a requirement for a police permit,” Voon noted.
He explained that organisers, acting in a role similar to a parliamentary Speaker, would announce the time and place for the public to assemble.
“All can come — except children — and police have a legal duty to safeguard the public during such assemblies,” he said.
According to Voon, the People’s Parliament provides a platform for citizens to voice concerns about national issues ranging from the economy to public safety.
“It can pass declarations to draw attention to the government,” he said.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Voon shared that he had been summoned to meet police officers at the Kuching Police District Headquarters at the Simpang Tiga Police Station regarding the upcoming event
“I told them the People’s Parliament is to explain to the people the impact of Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the Petroleum Development Act 1974 on Sarawak and Sabah.
“We thank the police for their curiosity wanting to know more about the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA 74) and they said they will attend the Parliament.”
‘A powerful tool of democracy’
Voon further described the People’s Parliament as “a powerful tool of democracy — in some ways more powerful than the elected parliament — because its power comes directly from the people.”
“When people rise up, their voice and agreements or disagreements during the People’s Parliament, if transformed into votes during elections, can even topple a government,” he told Scoop.
He referenced historical events such as the fall of Indonesian president Suharto, the ousting of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in the Philippines, and the impeachment of a South Korean president as examples of how civil uprisings can lead to regime change.
“In Europe too, many governments have fallen following mass street demonstrations,” he said.
He also highlighted the role of Malaysian civil society movements, particularly Bersih in 2018 led by former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan, in raising public awareness on corruption and the 1MDB scandal, ultimately contributing to the fall of the Najib Razak administration.
“People’s Parliament is in fact a form of protest and a demonstration of people’s power. If organised well, it can lead to regime change — peacefully or otherwise. But we must always aim to keep it peaceful to avoid civil unrest,” he said.
Despite the police intervention, Voon said PBK would not be deterred.
“We will continue to speak for the people,” he said, adding that the press conference tomorrow will outline the party’s next steps. – May 16, 2025.