Over the weekend, it was reported that 55,000 Malaysians attended the anti-ICERD (the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) rally to celebrate the government’s decision to not ratify this United Nations convention. This was in an effort to uphold the Federal Constitution.
However, despite warnings from Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Mazlan Lazim for participants to not bring children to the rally, many parents and guardians went ahead and attended the rally with their children.
Source: The Malaysian Insight
Now, according to Free Malaysia Today, the police will call up on the rally’s organiser after a report was filed regarding the attendance of children.
The police chief stated that taking children to rallies is an offence under Section 4 (2)(f) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and this could result in offenders having to pay a fine of up to RM20,000 if found guilty.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday morning (9th December), he was quoted by the daily as saying,
“The organiser will be called up to assist investigation. So far, no police report has been lodged on damage to the landscape during the rally.”
Source: Malaysiakini
The presence of children at the rally also raised concerns among Malaysian netizens, who were afraid that their safety could have been jeapordised and that the adults who brought them were irresponsible.
Well, let’s hope that police investigations go smoothly and that the appropriate punishment is carried out if anyone is found guilty of this!
Also read: Parents Ignore Warnings By Bringing Kids to Anti-ICERD Rally, Netizens Triggered
