Malaysia

[UPDATED] Buka Puasa, Buka Parlimen: marchers demand MPs reconvene

Event not protest; ‘merely peaceful gathering to break fast together’, says Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat member

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 30 Apr 2021 7:15PM

[UPDATED] Buka Puasa, Buka Parlimen: marchers demand MPs reconvene — The participants of a march on Parliament earlier today walked 500m from Tugu Negara to the Parliament gates despite heavy police presence. – LANCELOT THESEIRA/The Vibes pic, April 30, 2021

by Lancelot Theseira

KUALA LUMPUR – Over 100 people have marched on the Parliament building despite heavy police presence to demand the reconvening of lawmakers.

Organised by Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat, a loose coalition of youth civil groups, the participants marched 500m from Tugu Negara to the gates of Parliament.

“It’s not a protest per se,” a member of the secretariat told The Vibes earlier today. Wishing to remain anonymous, the member said the event is merely a “peaceful gathering of Malaysians breaking fast together”.

Organised by Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat, the march involved over 100 people reiterating six demands the secretariat issued to the government over the rakyat's plight during the pandemic. – LANCELOT THESEIRA/The Vibes pic, April 30, 2021

Newly formed civil society group Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat two days ago issued six demands to the government to address the people’s plight during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It also wants law minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan and the government to provide a clear timeline for the implementation of Undi18 and automatic voter registration.

“We demand to know the technical challenges that currently impede its swift execution.”

The six demands include calling on Putrajaya to work for the people by ending the emergency and reconvening Parliament, and implementing Undi18 immediately.

The others are guaranteeing the independence of the people’s economy, consolidating the education system to ensure a safe learning space for all Malaysians, the impartial and humane enforcement of the law, and for Sabah and Sarawak rights to be strengthened.

Mukhriz shows up, takes dig at PN

Pejuang president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, who was present, criticised the Election Commission announcement of a deferral in the implementation of Undi18.

“We don’t want to hear any more excuses,” he said. “They had ample time to make all the preparations.”

Pejuang president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir attends the march, criticising the Election Commission over Undi18 howlers and the Perikatan Nasional government over its management of the Covid-19 pandemic. – SYEDA IMRAN/The Vibes pic, April 30, 2021

Speaking to The Vibes, he took the opportunity to pan the Perikatan Nasional government. Citing the recent spike in Covid-19 cases, the former Kedah Menteri Besar said: “We feel quite passionately that the present government isn’t doing enough.”

He also claimed that the national budget has now reached an “unprecedented” RM600 billion purportedly to deal with Covid-19. “But we don’t see the effects of that,” he said. “There are no long queues to be vaccinated.”

Meanwhile, Sentul police chief Beh Eng Lai earlier said the gathering was an offence.

Referring to the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, he said the police were not informed of the protest.

According to Section 9(5) of the act, the organisers of an assembly must give police a minimum of five days’ notice. – The Vibes, April 30, 2021