KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain should ensure that police are aware that permits are no longer needed to hold rallies, said former Bersih chairman Maria Chin Abdullah.
Maria Chin, a former Petaling Jaya member of parliament (MP), in a Facebook post, cited the Peaceful Assembly Act, where organisers only need to inform the police in advance of a rally.
"Under this act, organisers are merely required to notify or inform the officer in charge of a police district of an intended assembly. The police have no authority under the act to refuse the assembly."
She was responding to Women's March Malaysia (WMMY), who claimed the police had denied its notice for this year's Women's March.
The march is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur this weekend.
The WMMY Organising Committee said yesterday that it had tried to serve a notice of assembly to the police four times on Friday and Saturday, but was denied.
Maria said she was concerned about the development.
She said police should be trained to deal with assemblies and have an understanding of what human rights meant in a democratic society.