By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, March 16: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief Dato Idris Buang said he would not attend tonight’s Forum organised by Rise of Sarawak Efforts (ROSE) as there was no police approval for this public event.
Idris issued an official letter dated today to notify ROSE that he would not be attending the `Youth and Employment in Sarawak: Opportunity or Challenge Forum’ scheduled for 7.30 pm at Kota Samarahan Summer Mall.
Apart from Idris, the other panellist is Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Sarawak secretary Andrew Lo.
The Muara Tuang assemblyman expressed two concerns in his letter. The first was that ROSE did not obtain the required police permit. The second was the request to reschedule the event to another time and place with all legal/police requirements met.
He said he was advised by a police officer from Special Branch at IPD Kota Samarahan that “because there was no police permit sought and obtained by the organisers for the event, the police will lodge an official report to mark their disapproval”.
“According to him, although the police may not physically stop the event, they will have to lodge a police report and put up a proper investigation paper for the failure to obtain the police permit required by law,” said Idris in his letter to ROSE.
He said the police permit was required under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
“Although I was ready and looking forward to participating in the event in the interest of Sarawakians, especially the youths, but in view of this situation and the lacking of fulfilling the lawful requirement, I have to regretfully refrain from attending this event.
“Not until ROSE, as the organiser, can guarantee and ensure that all legal procedures are followed and not one of the panellists, including myself, are exposed to any risks whatsoever, including legal prosecution under the said Act of 2012.
“As a Sarawak assemblyman, it would be very unbecoming of me to attend any assembly where lawful requirements are not met,” said Idris. — DayakDaily
