PUTRAJAYA: A special task force is in the midst of investigating the organiser of 'Himpunan Selamatkan Rakyat' for using the palace's name to attract people to join in the assembly at Istana Negara yesterday.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the task force, set up last year to focus on matters linked to the royal institution, race and religion, will conclude its probe in seven days before submitting investigation papers (IP) to the Attorney General's Chambers.
"In this case, the task force is specifically investigating a police report made by Istana Negara which said it never granted anyone entry into the palace and an audience to handover a document.
"The probe is on how the palace's name was dragged into this and used as capital to announce to supporters that the palace had given consent to an audience.
"We view this seriously and I believe the police will act accordingly and speed up investigations as pledged by Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Allaudeen Abdul Majid," he said at the ministry headquarters today.
Badrul Hisham Shahrin, better known as Chegu Bard, in a TikTok video reportedly said the palace had granted an audience to three Perikatan Nasional leaders.
He is a representative of the organiser, non-governmental organisation Pembela Tanah Air (Peta).
Istana Negara's officer Mohd Husni Yusop made a report at the Travers police station to deny Badrul Hisham's claim and that it was untrue.
Meanwhile,Saifuddin said the organiser should not play the victim card when they are probed for breaching the laws by not notifying police of the assembly.
"The organiser must inform the police, who will facilitate the assembly. However, the organiser refused to do the very basic thing required under the Peaceful Assembly Act.
"It is clear that they had gathered at Istana Negara without first informing the police. That is the first fact, unchanged. So when the police act by calling up the organiser, they should not play victim," he added.
He said the government had never tried to bar the organisation of assemblies as in 2023, there were 78 where IPs were opened but no charges were made against anyone.
The police, he said, adopted the approach to summon the organiser to advise them on the offences committed.
"So we had 78 assemblies in the country last year. Yet, some people say that the freedom of expression in the country is obstructed and the government is fearful of assemblies.
"But based on these numbers, nobody will believe this. Our approach is to give advice.
"But, they crossed the line when they dragged the royal institution into it," he added.
Yesterday, Allaudeen said the organisers have been identified and will be called in to give their statements soon.
He said an IP has been opened under the Act.
An estimated 1,000 people had joined the assembly, including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Pertubuhan Perkasa Pribumi Malaysia (Perkasa) Syed Hassan Syed Ali.
Syed Hassan and Peta secretary-general Mohd Aswanizam Alias then submitted a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
It was received by representatives of Istana Negara.
The memorandum, among others, conveyed the grievances of the people on the national economy.