The police should allow the people to hold peaceful assembly especially within enclosures in order not to create a perception that Malaysia is intolerant of peaceful assembly and freedom of speech, said Gerakan deputy secretary-general Liang Teck Meng.

Liang said when a gathering is peaceful but without permit, the speakers should be allowed to air their grievances and opinions albeit under strict monitoring by the police.

“The people have the right to express their views peacefully and orderly while the government should also be seen as open to the people’s views,” he said in a statement.

Liang recalled that in Aug 2009, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein had announced a review of the Police Act to allow for assembly in stadiums and “certain corners” of town.

Liang said it is time for the Police Act to be amended to ensure it respects the right to peaceful assembly and curtailing the unlimited power of a police district’s officer in charge to refuse to license or determine the conditions under which assemblies, meetings, and processions are licensed.

“There should be substitute regulations that set out reasonable and negotiated conditions for an assembly and an appeal process that eliminates political grounds on which decisions to withhold permission are often made.”

Liang said Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon had in September last year also urged the police to act fairly when dealing with public demonstrations because of the perception that they were more effective in cracking down on peaceful rallies than on crime.

Echoing the call by Koh, Liang asserted that the police should come up with standard procedures to deal with public demonstrations to show they were fair. He said the police should only act if there were signs of violence erupting.

Liang said it would be better for gatherings to be held within enclosures, as it would be more peaceful and easier for the police to provide security

Liang was commenting on the arrest of 30 people in Petaling Jaya and 4 people at the Speakers Square during the “Abolish Internal Security Act (ISA) vigil in Penang on Sunday night.