BUTTERWORTH, May 27 – Penang Pakatan Rakyat executive secretary Ong Eu Leong, 44, was today charged in the Sessions Court here with organising a peaceful rally on May 11 at the State Stadium in Batu Kawan, near here, without a police permit.
Judge Meor Sulaiman Ahmad Tarmizi, however, released Ong who is from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), without imposing any bail on him and fixed June 27 for re-mention of the case.
Ong, who was represented by eight lawyers led by R.S.N Rayer, is alleged to have committed the offence at 8.30pm on May 11 at the State Stadium. No plea to the charge was recorded.
The charge under Section 9 (1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 is punishable with a fine of up to RM10,000 under Section 9 (5) of the same Act.
According to the Peaceful Assembly Act, Ong needed to inform the police 10 days earlier before holding the gathering.
DPP Amir Hamdzah Othman appeared for the prosecution. The gathering, held to explain current issues and to protest against the 13th general election results, was attended by several opposition pact leaders including DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu.
The PKR-organised gathering caused public inconvenience and anger due to the massive traffic jam created up to 10 kilometres and went on until 3am the next day.
– BERNAMA
