The recent warning issued by the police against organisers of the planned demonstration in conjunction with the visit of President Donald Trump for the ASEAN Summit is a clear violation of the Federal Constitution and an abuse of authority. Any attempt to prohibit or intimidate citizens from exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly strikes at the heart of the rule of law and erodes the very foundations of Malaysia’s democracy.
The right of all citizens to assemble peaceably and without arms is not a privilege to be granted or withdrawn at the discretion of the authorities; it is a fundamental liberty enshrined in Article 10(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution, forming an essential pillar of democratic participation and public accountability.
While Article 10(2) allows for such rights to be subject to restrictions as Parliament may deem necessary or expedient in the interest of security or public order, such restrictions must always be reasonable, proportionate, and consistent with the purpose of the constitutional guarantee. The police, as the primary law enforcement agency, are constitutionally and statutorily bound to respect, protect, and facilitate the exercise of this right.
Recent Federal Court rulings have asserted the police have a positive duty to enable and assist peaceful assemblies, and that their role is not to suppress or prevent such gatherings, but to ensure they take place safely and lawfully. The decision underscores that the right to assemble cannot be negated by administrative fiat or speculative apprehension of disorder.
In light of this binding precedent, the police statement declaring that the proposed assembly “will not be permitted” and threatening to disperse participants is inconsistent with constitutional guarantees and contrary to the Federal Court’s pronouncement.
The proximity of the proposed venue to the designated “red zone” for the ASEAN Summit is not, in itself, a lawful basis for prohibition, so long as demonstrators remain outside the officially demarcated restricted area. The right to assemble peacefully in public spaces cannot be extinguished merely due to geographical proximity to official events or dignitaries.
Accordingly, we urge the police to withdraw the threat of enforcement action and instead engage proactively with the organisers to ensure that the demonstration proceeds peacefully and in accordance with the law.
Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy
The latest leadership crisis in the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (MITRA) is not a coincidence, nor is it merely a matter of administrative confusion. It is the result of a deliberate and calculated political manoeuvre by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to divide Indian leaders within his own party and deflect blame from his consistent failure to deliver real progress for the Indian community.
By orchestrating a revolving-door leadership in MITRA — first appointing an all party committee chaired by Ramanan, then shifting it to Saraswathy, less than a year later installing P. Prabakaran as a sole Chairman, and now abruptly reinstating R. Ramanan under opaque circumstances . Anwar is fuelling infighting among Indian leaders in PKR and DAP. This internal conflict is not accidental; it servesAnwar’s political purpose. It keeps Indian leaders and community distracted and at odds with one another while the real culprit – PM himself remains untouched.
MITRA’s ineffectiveness is shifted onto the Indian leaders themselves, giving the false impression that the failures are due to their infighting. This is a classic divide-and-rule tactic, executed to perfection by Anwar. As Indian MPs and leaders scramble for clarity and control, Anwar positions himself as a distant, uninvolved authority — above the fray, and conveniently absolved of all responsibility.
But the truth is this: Anwar has consistently failed to introduce meaningful policies or allocate sufficient resources for the socio-economic upliftment of Indians, especially in the 13th Malaysia Plan. MITRA, which should have been a vehicle for empowerment, has instead become a symbol of neglect, confusion, and manipulation — all under his watch.
This is not leadership — this is manipulation. The Indian community must see through the illusion. The repeated failures of MITRA are not the fault of individual Indian leaders, but the result of a Prime Minister who discriminates, fabricates a false narrative of a multiracial Malaysia, and systematically shortchanges the Indian community.
Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy
ASEAN cannot claim to stand for peace while opening its doors to a man whose policies have fuelled one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of our time. If Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim truly believes in justice for Palestine, then as ASEAN Chair, he must take a stand — Donald Trump must not be allowed to step onto ASEAN’s stage.
Under Trump’s watch, the United States has armed the siege of Gaza to the teeth. His administration approved or proposed nearly USD 12 billion in weapons sales to Israel — the same weapons that turned homes, hospitals, and schools into graves. In 2025 alone, Trump pushed through a USD 6 billion arms deal, including Apache helicopters and combat vehicles. He then used “emergency” powers to fast-track another USD 4 billion in military aid, bypassing Congress entirely. A further USD 3 billion in munitions sales slipped through under the same excuse.
At every step, Trump made a choice: to arm the oppressor, not protect the innocent.
He even scrapped a Biden-era policy that linked arms transfers to international humanitarian law — effectively removing any check on how U.S. weapons are used. Where others hesitated over civilian deaths, Trump’s team hit the accelerator.
The results are horrifying.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented relentless strikes on Gaza’s hospitals and clinics. Médecins Sans Frontières calls it a “campaign of total destruction.” The World Health Organisation has verified 697 attacks on health facilities since October 2023.
Israel’s blockade has weaponised food and medicine; 54,000 children under five are now acutely malnourished. More than 67,000 people have been killed, mostly women and children. The actual toll, researchers warn, may be far higher.
These are not numbers; they are lives — lives destroyed by the very weapons Trump rushed to deliver.
Inviting him to an ASEAN summit would reward the enabler of this tragedy. It would stain ASEAN’s credibility and make a mockery of every call for peace or humanitarian justice.
Anwar Ibrahim has long spoken of conscience and moral courage. Now is the time to prove it. As ASEAN Chair, he must lead, not follow; act, not appease. Refusing Trump’s presence is not about politics — it’s about principle. It’s about saying that Southeast Asia will not roll out the red carpet for those who profit from war and suffering.
If ASEAN stands for peace, it must stand firmly against those who destroy it.
If Anwar Ibrahim stands for justice, he must say, clearly and without apology:
Donald Trump’s hands are bloodied — and he has no place at our table.