Parti Rakyat Malaysia (Malaysian People's Party) regrets that the police continues to interfere and disallow political meetings which were held in a peaceful manner. Recently, more applications for holding political meetings were turned down by the police. In fact, some political meetings organised by the People's Movement for Justice Council (Gerak) were rejected by the police although those meetings were to be held in PAS's offices and compounds. The reason given for the rejection was to safeguard the public order. This reason is not acceptable because till now all political meetings organised by the opposition political parties have been peaceful in nature.

In order to disrupt the political gathering organised by the Gerak on 15 October 1998 at Pokok Sena, Kedah, the police had set up two road blocks on the road leading to the meeting and stopped all the Gerak's supporters from attending the meeting. As a result, thousands of Gerak's supporters who came from various places were forced to turn back. Many FRU and police trucks were lined up along the road close to the meeting from 3.00 p.m. till 12.30 a.m. The atmosphere was tense as if this country was in emergency rule. Actually what Gerak wanted to do was to hold a peaceful meeting that began with prayers, reading yaasin and followed by a political talk. There was nothing wrong with it. Similarly, several political meetings organised by Gerak at Batu Pahat, Johor; in Melaka and in Kelang were also stopped by the police soon after the meetings started.

The police action is obviously a violation of human rights as stated in our constitution. If people no longer enjoy their rights to freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly to express their opinions, does it mean this country no longer respects democratic principles and the rule of law which we claim to uphold in this country? The Malaysian People's Party would like to know why the government is using the laws to disrupt and prohibit people from having peaceful public gatherings?

We strongly protest against the rough actions by the police to beat, kick and punch some demonstrators including women when they dispersed a peaceful demonstration. We believe that the people have the right to have a peaceful demonstration in order to express their feelings and opinions regarding important issues that are faced by our people and our country now. Up to now, all demonstrations have been conducted in a peaceful manner. Those who took part in the demonstrations were not out to create chaos or trouble but to express their feelings in a peaceful way. The situation became chaotic when the police used force to disperse the demonstrators.

We hope that the police will respect and recognise the rights of the people to have peaceful gatherings and demonstrations. Our people are now matured enough to think and to express their political opinions. As citizens, they are also responsible to determine the future of their beloved country.

Dr. Sanusi Osman
20 September 1998
Secretary General of PRM