KUALA LUMPUR – Several Perikatan Nasional leaders have been summoned by police to provide their statements on the coalition’s Malaysia Day rally scheduled this Saturday.
Gombak Setia assemblyman Hilman Idham said the move is an “intimidation tactic” to scare citizens from joining the protest against the conditional discharge (DNAA) granted to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“It’s obvious that this government should be called the ‘reformati’ government because it is a hypocrite towards its ideals and the principles of its struggles,” he said in a statement today.
He added that he will be providing his statement at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters here at 11am tomorrow.
Meanwhile, PN Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli and other coalition leaders will be giving their statements at 11.30am, with a press conference expected to be held afterwards.
Previously, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, who is also Pasir Mas MP, said the coalition’s youth wing would hold a rally in front of Sogo on Saturday, as part of its “Save Malaysia” movement to voice concerns over the discharge not amounting to an acquittal granted to Zahid.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIGP) Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay later said that yesterday was the last day for the rally organisers to submit an application for a permit.
When asked about parties that have not made applications by today but are planning to go ahead with holding a rally, Ayob Khan said, “We will take action according to the existing laws.”
Earlier today, human rights organisation Lawyers for Liberty slammed Pakatan Harapan (PH) and the DIGP over their warnings to the rally organisers.
The group said the “persecuted PH appear to have turned persecutors” for citing the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA), which they once criticised, against the current opposition.
“All this despite the fact that there is no indication whatsoever that the rally will not be peaceful. Has PH now totally abandoned any and all of their previous beliefs and convictions?” – September 12, 2023