Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi must explain the latest twist to the ceramah (public talks) ban when he said organisers could still apply for permits, urged a PAS leader today.

He (Abdullah) has to make a clear statement that there is no ban and there is no need to apply for police permits to hold ceramah in private premises, said PAS secretary-general Nasharudin Mat Isa when contacted.

Nasharudin was responding to the deputy premiers remark yesterday that there was no ban on ceramah as organisers could still apply for permits.

Abdullah, who is also home affairs minister, also said political parties could hold assemblies at their respective venues without having to apply for police permits.

PAS, which had threatened to sue Abdullah for the purported ban, said it is still waiting to see the official stand of the government pending the 14-day dateline it set for legal action.

We had issued our earlier statements based on Abdullahs own announcement that there was to be a ban, said Nasharudin referring to the governments earlier decision to enforce the general prohibition of political gatherings implemented since last July.

According to Nasharudin, police have not made a distinction between assemblies held in private and public premises.

Those assemblies that were held in private premises and markah (centres) were also harassed by police, he claimed, adding police have entered private premises of PAS members in Kedah and Johor on several occasions.

Contradictory statements

Meanwhile, Keadilan secretary-general Sahri Bahari said Abdullahs latest position contradicts what is happening on the ground.

The police have categorically denied us permits for ceramah, Sahri told malaysiakini.

He added Keadilan had been asked to obtain permits even for festive gatherings in private arenas.

According to Sahri, two of the partys recent Hari Raya and Chinese New Year gatherings in Perak and Kuala Lumpur were interrupted by police and the organisers were issued warnings.

Sahri asserted that untoward incidents only happen when there is excessive interference or provocation by the police.

He said the opposition front, Barisan Alternatif, had sent a letter to Inspector-General of Police Norian Mai last month requesting a meeting to clarify the ceramah ban but did not receive any response.

Ban enforced

The ceramah issue landed in the spotlight, when a PAS gathering in Baling, Kedah, turned unruly two weeks ago.

Police said PAS supporters attacked them when they tried to break up an illegal gathering, but the opposition party accused police of using excessive force. A police truck was partly burnt during the incident.

Police also alleged they were attacked on the way back to the police station by 20 youths who pelted them with sticks and stones.

It was also reported that an assortment of weapons were recovered, including knives and bags containing acid.

Following this, Abdullah called on the police to be more aggressive in enforcing the ban on ceramah.

On Monday, Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) denounced the intended ban on general assemblies as unconstitutional.