Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan
said the proposed Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 was even more repressive
than a similar law passed recently in Burma's military-dominated
Parliament.
"It is shameful that Burma can propose a far more democratic law than us.
"It is a terrible insult to Malaysians because we were promised more democracy, but now it is the opposite," said Ambiga, who is a former Bar Council president.
At a press conference in Petaling Jaya, Ambiga said Burma's new law allows for street demonstrations and organisers only need to notify the authorities five days in advance.
She said this was a stark contrast against Malaysia's Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011, which proposes banning street demonstrations and imposing a 30 day notice period.
Putting the numbers together, Bersih secretariat member Wong Chin Huat said Burma was six times more democratic than Malaysia.
Hefty fines targets the poor
Burma has been under authoritarian military rule since 1962 and has an appaling human rights track record.
Commenting
on the stiff fines - between RM10,000 and RM20,000 - proposed in the
Bill, Wong said that this was an attempt to stop the poor from joining
any protests.
“This is to tell the poor please look at your mortgage first before going to rally.”
The Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 has been widely criticised by human rights groups, including the government funded Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), and Pakatan Rakyat leaders.
It was argued that the Bill seeks to provide the police and the home minister more powers and banning street demonstrations altogether.
The first round on Dewan Rakyat debates on the Bill will kick off on Tuesday.
"It is shameful that Burma can propose a far more democratic law than us."It is a terrible insult to Malaysians because we were promised more democracy, but now it is the opposite," said Ambiga, who is a former Bar Council president.
At a press conference in Petaling Jaya, Ambiga said Burma's new law allows for street demonstrations and organisers only need to notify the authorities five days in advance.
She said this was a stark contrast against Malaysia's Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011, which proposes banning street demonstrations and imposing a 30 day notice period.
Putting the numbers together, Bersih secretariat member Wong Chin Huat said Burma was six times more democratic than Malaysia.
Hefty fines targets the poor
Burma has been under authoritarian military rule since 1962 and has an appaling human rights track record.
Commenting
on the stiff fines - between RM10,000 and RM20,000 - proposed in the
Bill, Wong said that this was an attempt to stop the poor from joining
any protests.“This is to tell the poor please look at your mortgage first before going to rally.”
The Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 has been widely criticised by human rights groups, including the government funded Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), and Pakatan Rakyat leaders.
It was argued that the Bill seeks to provide the police and the home minister more powers and banning street demonstrations altogether.
The first round on Dewan Rakyat debates on the Bill will kick off on Tuesday.
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