22 July 2025
Joint Statement
Sekretariat Himpun and the undersigned organisations condemn the obstruction by the police against peaceful protesters outside Parliament today as they submitted memoranda on the amendments to the Peaceful Assembly Act and the repeal of the Sedition Act. The right to peaceful assembly is enshrined under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution. Obstruction and disproportionate police response—especially when protesters are seeking to deliver human rights-centred legal reforms to the Members of Parliament (MPs) undermine democratic freedoms and public trust in state institutions.
This morning, protesters were met with a heavy police presence consisting of over 60 officers, including members of the Light Strike Force (LSF). A human barricade was set up less than a hundred metres from the Parliament gates, preventing participants from proceeding any further. Despite the peaceful nature of the assembly and the protesters’ clear intent to submit memoranda, police refused to permit passage. No clear explanation was provided other than Parliament was a “prohibited area”.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, peaceful assemblies were permitted to take place past the Parliament gates to submit memoranda. Since then, access has been arbitrarily curtailed, with protestors confined to the public road outside Parliament grounds, undermining the democratic function of assemblies.
As asserted by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly, protests include the right to demonstrate “within sight and sound” of the intended audience. This is a key democratic function of protest – bringing public demands directly to those in power.
Further, authorities have a duty to facilitate these assemblies at the designated location. In this instance, the police not only failed to facilitate the event but also made the space unavailable for organisers and participants due to a heavy police presence. As a result of the obstruction, MPs and/or their representatives had to leave the Parliament compound to receive the memoranda directly.
Even where restrictions are in place, they must be weighed against Malaysia’s constitutional guarantees and internationally recognised principles of necessity and proportionality. Blanket prohibitions on presence in Parliament fall short of these standards and send the wrong message—that public input must remain at the margins rather than at the heart of decision-making.
The sheer scale and posture of the police presence, including the deployment of the LSF—reflected a presumption that protest is inherently disruptive rather than democratic. This is especially troubling given the absence of any threat to public order. The intimidating display of force can chill civic engagement and erode confidence in the police as facilitators of the constitutional right of Malaysians to peacefully assemble, frustrating those who seek to peacefully protest.
Notably as well, negotiations were ongoing between organisers and the police just behind the barricade when a female protester—part of the negotiation team—was pushed by a female officer, reportedly following vague instructions from a male commanding officer.
Sekretariat Himpun unequivocally affirms and defends the right to peacefully assemble to demand justice and reform. No one should face any form of intimidation or obstruction for exercising their constitutional rights. We call for:
- The immediate reinstatement of meaningful public access to Parliament, including clear, reasonable protocols for assemblies to approach Parliament for memorandum handovers in line with international human rights standards;
- Commitment by the Home Ministry to ensure that upcoming amendments to the Peaceful Assembly Act include a comprehensive review of all sections that impose restrictions on assemblies in line with international human rights standards;
- Improved police training that focuses on managing peaceful assemblies in a facilitative, rights-based approach, and emphasises restraint in the deployment and use of force.
Endorsed by:
1. Mandiri
2. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
3. Bersih4. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
5. Federasi Pemuda Kebangsaan
6. Liga Mahasiswa Malaysia
7. Mahasiswa Demokratik Malaysia
8. Gerakan Perempuan Melawan
9. Justice For Sisters
10. Amnesty International Malaysia
11. Pro-Siswa Kolej Komuniti Malaysia