Malaysia’s Anwar faces heat over ‘absurd’ rules on anti-corruption rally

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his government – once vocal advocates of the right to protest – have come under criticism from civil society groups and their own supporters for imposing restrictions on an anti-corruption rally planned for this weekend.

Since coming to power after 25 years as Malaysia’s key opposition figure, Anwar has been chided for backsliding on his reform promises and instead defending laws such as the Sedition Act and Press Printing and Publication Act, which were once used to silence his own street movement.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution told the organisers of Saturday’s march that they must ask for permission from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the owners of Sogo shopping centre to protest, saying the streets outside those places are not “public spaces”.

The People’s Rally Against Corruption, led by student groups, will start outside the plaza in central Kuala Lumpur – a symbolic starting point for many mass marches under Anwar’s Reformasi movement – and proceed to Independence Square.

Zaid Malek, the director of rights group Lawyers for Liberty, took Saifuddin to task for the apparent attempt to impede the rally.

“Following this absurd logic, no public gathering can take place in Malaysia so long as surrounding building owners object to it,” Zaid, who provided legal advice to the organisers, said.

“Why is the government so afraid of anti-corruption rally when they have made a boast of fighting corruption?” he said, adding they have complied with the 2012 Peaceful Assembly Act stipulations.