AMIR HARIRI ABD HADI v. PP
FEDERAL COURT, PUTRAJAYA
TENGKU MAIMUN TUAN MAT CJ
ABANG ISKANDAR PCA
NALLINI PATHMANATHAN FCJ
RHODZARIAH BUJANG FCJ
MOHD NAZLAN GHAZALI JCA
[CRIMINAL REFERENCE NO: 06(RJ)-1-08-2024(W)]
1 JULY 2025
[2025] CLJ JT (8)

Abstract – Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which makes it illegal for an organiser to not give notice to the police before a peaceful rally is unconstitutional and is no longer a valid law in Malaysia. The said provision is a disproportionate and discriminatory restriction that excessively curtails the right to peaceful assembly guaranteed by art. 10(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution, exceeding the permissible restrictions enshrined in art. 10(2)(b).

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: Fundamental liberties – Right to freedom of speech and expression – Right to peaceful assembly – Parliamentary restrictions on assembly rights – Notification of assembly and requirement of giving ten days' notice to police – Organiser failed to give police ten days' notice – Whether requirement to give notice reasonable – Whether non-compliance to give required notice detrimental to organiser – Whether in breach of safeguarding provisions – Whether s. 9(1) & (5) of Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 void – Whether inconsistent with Federal Constitution – Federal Constitution, arts. 4(1), 8(1), 10(1)(b) & 10(2)(b)