M'SIAN GOVT IS PREPARED TO PROVIDE SUITABLE VENUES FOR PEACEFUL GATHERINGS -PM

MUAR (Malaysia), Aug 3 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government is prepared to
provide suitable venues like stadiums for the people to hold peaceful gatherings
instead of parading in the streets and incoveniencing others, said Prime
Minister Najib Tun Razak.

"We can provide them stadiums where they can shout themselves hoarse till
dawn, but don't cause disturbance in the streets," said Najib in commenting on
the illegal assemblies organised in the federal capital on Aug 1.

The demonstrators numbering some 10,000 were protesting against the Internal
Security Act (ISA).

The Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) is a preventive detention law in force
in Malaysia. The legislation was enacted by Malaysian politicians after the
country gained independence from Britain in 1957.

In essence, it allows for the arrest of any person without the need for
trial in certain defined circumstances.

Speaking to reporters, Najib said the government was leaving
it to the police whether to take action against opposition leaders who were
involved in Aug 1's street demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur.

Also present was Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Prime Minister said police had a duty to preserve peace and order, and
did not want incidents like Aug 1 continue unabated.

"It is up to the authorities (whether to take action against the leaders
involved). Street demonstrations should not continue and the authorities can
take action," he said, adding that the opposition were using them for political
capital in trying to paint the government as though it was a cruel one.

Police detained 589 people who were among the participants in the illegal
assemblies in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 1.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Muhammad Sabtu Osman had said police would
investigate the involvement of opposition leaders, among them People's Justice
Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat - PKR) advisor Anwar Ibrahim; Malaysian Islamic
Party (PAS) secretary-general Mustafa Ali; Batu MP Tian Chua; Democratic Action
Party (DAP) parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang; PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang
and PAS Central Committee member, Mohamad Sabu, in the demonstrations.

The People's Justice Party (PKR) is a centrist political party in Malaysia
formed in 2003, and in 2008, PKR together with DAP and PAS formed a political
coalition known as People's Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat-PR).

The illegal assemblies brought traffic to a standstill in a number of roads
in the city besides causing difficulties for traders and city folk.


-- BERNAMA