Women's March didn't violate Federal Constitution, says Hanipa

PARLIAMENT | The Women's March, in which a pro-LGBT group took part, did not contravene the Federal Constitution, de facto Deputy Law Minister Mohamed Hanipa Maidin (photo, above) said.

"The Women's March involving the LGBT group did not violate Article 10 of the Federal Constitution," Hanipa said in a parliamentary reply yesterday.

Article 10 of the Federal Constitution allows all citizens the right to assemble peacefully without weapons.

He was responding to Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (PAS-Rantau Panjang), who asked why the government classified the Women's March involving the pro-LGBT group as “no further action” when it “obviously violated Islam and the Federal Constitution”.

Explaining further, Hanipa said the government did so as the police investigation found the event organiser had submitted a notice to the police 10 days prior to the march, in line with Section 9(1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act.

"During the assembly, there was no incident that breached the law," Hanipa added.

"Even if the honourable MP's (Siti Zailah's) accusation that what happened had violated Islam was true, under the law, the attorney-general has no power to charge those who go against Islam," he said.

Participants in the march in Kuala Lumpur on March 9 put forward a list of demands, which included an end to child marriage and gender-based violence.

However, the demands were overshadowed by intense criticism over the presence of LGBT participants in the demonstration.

Police previously questioned nine people in connection with the Women’s March.

The police also conducted an investigation under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, after receiving reports from the Dang Wangi district police headquarters.

In May, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the case was classified as ‘no further action'.