Review of judicial decision would delay reforms of PAA, Gobind tells AG

Minister of Digital Gobind Singh Deo has urged Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar to seriously reconsider a judicial review in the case of Amir Hariri Abdul Hadi that declared section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA) unconstitutional as it would delay the progress achieved in amending the act.

“While I acknowledge the Attorney General and his team have worked hard to support the government’s legislative reform initiatives thus far, I am concerned that a review of this judicial decision would delay the progress of amending the Act until such proceedings are concluded,” Gobind said in a statement.

“In addition to that, the application for review would not permit us to look beyond the matters raised in that application thereby limiting intended reforms which are needed to the Act which would otherwise be achieved through amendments in Parliament.

“This matter was raised and discussed at the Cabinet meeting yesterday,” he added.

Gobind who is also DAP national chairman also reminded that Pakatan Harapan has consistently raised concerns and called for reforms on the act.

“Given that efforts are already underway to amend the Peaceful Assembly Act, we should take this opportunity to revisit and improve the provisions of the Act through Parliament instead of pursuing further litigation by way of review,” he also said.