‘Peaceful Assembly’ protest turns poetry recital

By Melissa Chi

December 03, 2011

A. Samad Said (left) recites a poem to those gathered in the city centre park, Kuala Lumpur December 3, 2011. - Pictures by Melissa Chi

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 — The second KLCC protest against the new assembly law became a poetry recital session instead, with national laureate Datuk A. Samad Said reciting his latest poem, Merindu Ruang to a crowd donned in yellow clothing.

“Make yourself comfortable, it’s going to be a party,” Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Wong Chin Huat told a crowd of about 200 today at the park adjacent to the Petronas twin towers and prominent city building.

“We will fight violence with the beauty of literature,” he added.

The crowd was joined by among others, DAP lawmakers Lim Kit Siang, Tony Pua, and Lim Lip Eng.

Today’s demonstration, last half an hour, was the second to be organised by the Freedom to Assemble Campaign, a coalition of over 30 NGOs.

Lim Kit Siang (left), Samad (centre) and Wong sing the ‘Negaraku’ to end the demonstration on December 3, 2011.

A week ago, almost 300 people gathered here to protest the Peaceful Assembly Bill.

Both occasions ended with KLCC security personnel requesting the crowd to disperse.

Today, Wong was told that he needed the permission from KLCC’s management to gather in the park.

But he told reporters later that they will continue to hold protests every Saturday at KLCC until the law is revoked.

The Peaceful Assembly Bill, which bans street demonstrations, was passed on November 29 on BN votes after the opposition Pakatan Rakyat bloc staged a walkout.