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Kota Kinabalu: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) urged the authorities to allow the planned peaceful assembly by the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih) scheduled for July 9.Likewise assemblies reportedly planned by Umno Youth and Perkasa.

However, it reminded those intending to hold these assemblies to exercise their rights in a peaceful and responsible manner.

Suhakam reiterated its position that it is the right of members of the public to assemble and to express their views in a peaceful manner, as provided for under Article 10 (1) (b) of the Federal Constitution, as well as Article 20 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, said its Chairman, Tan Sri Hasmy Agam in a statement Monday.

The Commission recalled the recommendations it had made in the past for the Government to respect the freedom of assembly, as contained in, among others, in its Annual Reports to Parliament.

This also included its requests for the repeal of sub-sections (2), (2A) - (2D), (4), (4A), (5), (5A)-(5C), (7) and (8) of Section 27 and Section 27A of the Police Act 1967, and its recommendation that where the police find it necessary to control or disperse a crowd during an assembly, proportionate and non-violent methods should be employed.