Cops warn against Workers' Day march, organisers to press on
Police have warned organisers against going ahead with the Workers' Day march on May 1.
However, the organisers are insistent on going ahead with the rally, which they said had proceeded yearly without incident.
In a statement today, Dang Wangi district police headquarters chief Mohd Sukri Kaman said the decision not to allow the rally was due to the organisers failing to fully comply with the notice of gathering required by law.
"I have given a warning to the organisers not to go ahead with the rally as they failed to comply with Section 10(c) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which requires that they seek approval from the owner of the venues.
"Therefore, the organisers' application cannot be processed.
"If the gathering goes ahead, the organisers will face legal action under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and other existing laws," Mohd Sukri said.
Police have warned organisers against going ahead with the Workers' Day march on May 1.
However, the organisers are insistent on going ahead with the rally, which they said had proceeded yearly without incident.
In a statement today, Dang Wangi district police headquarters chief Mohd Sukri Kaman said the decision not to allow the rally was due to the organisers failing to fully comply with the notice of gathering required by law.
"I have given a warning to the organisers not to go ahead with the rally as they failed to comply with Section 10(c) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which requires that they seek approval from the owner of the venues.
"Therefore, the organisers' application cannot be processed.
"If the gathering goes ahead, the organisers will face legal action under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and other existing laws," Mohd Sukri said.
On Wednesday, a group of NGOs announced that they will march from the KTMB headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to Bukit Bintang on May 1.
Among the issues they plan to highlight is the delay in the implementation of the Employees' Insurance Scheme.
PSM committee member S Arutchelvan, who is one of the coordinators for the rally, insisted that the march would go ahead.
"Basically, we notify the police every year. The police raised an issue because our final destination is Bukit Bintang.
"They said we need to get permission from the shop lots there and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
"We told them that in the past 23 years we have been organising the May Day rally, we had never asked permission because we notified the police, and we didn't enter any premises as we will be just outside, in the public place," Arutchelvan said.
He added that the country would be a laughing stock if workers of the world march on Workers' Day but Malaysians are not allowed to do so.
"We have notified the police and we will proceed this year.
"We have also invited the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) and Bar Council to monitor, like last year, so we think the police should be more relaxed. It's the 23rd year this is being organised," Arutchelvan added.
