Dato Selvam Selliah
Vice President
MAP

Hindraf and MAP leader Waytha Moorthy’s open and heartfelt apology within mere hours of realizing an error in his public statement stands as a remarkable and exemplary act of political integrity in Malaysia’s public sphere. In an era where political figures often seek refuge behind excuses of being “misquoted” or “taken out of context,” Waytha’s swift acknowledgment and rectification of his mistake within 12 hours mark a refreshing departure from the norm and a bold step towards a new culture of accountability in Malaysian politics.

Waytha Moorthy has not only corrected an error — he has set a new benchmark for political ethics and reminded us all that leadership is defined not by perfection, but by the courage to admit and amend one’s mistakes.

Public apologies of this nature — issued voluntarily, without external pressure, and rooted in a sincere commitment to truth — are exceedingly rare. For a political leader who delivers public speeches almost daily to pause, recheck the facts, and immediately issue a correction demonstrates intellectual honesty, humility, and moral courage of the highest order.

Waytha Moorthy’s decision to own up to his mistake without hesitation or justification should be commended and emulated by all public figures. It signals a maturing of Malaysian political culture, where integrity triumphs over ego, and accountability takes precedence over deflection.

Malaysians are outraged and betrayed by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s conduct at the recent ASEAN Summit, where he not only welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump with a dance but publicly glorified the very figure who armed, financed, and justified Israel’s brutal war on Gaza.

Anwar had justified Trump’s invitation by claiming it would allow Malaysia to make its position on Palestine “crystal clear.” But when the time came to stand firm, he chose cowardice over courage, praise over principle, and silence over justice.

By declaring he was “delighted to hear from Trump directly”and commending Trump’s supposed commitment to peace, Anwar betrayed the trust of Malaysians and dishonoured the suffering of Gaza’s civilians.

He should have demanded accountability for America’s billions in aid that fuel Israel’s war machine, condemned Israel’s war crimes against hospitals and civilians, called for an end to U.S. arms sales to Israel, and insisted that Washington stop using its U.N. veto to block justice for Palestine. Instead, he remained silent.

This is not diplomacy — it is a disgraceful act of moral surrender. Malaysia must never sacrifice truth for political gain. Our voice belongs with the oppressed, never in defence of their oppressors.

As Gaza bleeds, Malaysians will not stay silent — nor will we accept silence from those who claim to speak in our name.

Rakyat Malaysia berasa marah dan dikhianati oleh tindakan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim di Sidang Kemuncak ASEAN, apabila beliau bukan sahaja menyambut Presiden A.S. Donald Trump dengan tarian, tetapi turut mengagung-agungkan Trump yang membiayai, mempersenjatai dan membenarkan perang kejam Israel terhadap Gaza.

Anwar bulan lalu mempertahankan jemputannya kepada Trump dengan alasan bahawa ia akan memberi peluang kepada Malaysia untuk menjelaskan pendirian terhadap Palestin secara“jelas dan tegas.” Namun apabila tiba saat untuk berdiri teguh, beliau menjadi pengecut, memuji Trump tanpa prinsip, dan menggadai keadilan kepada rakyat Palestine.

Dengan menyatakan bahawa beliau “gembira mendengar sendiri daripada Trump” serta memuji kononnya komitmen Trump terhadap keamanan, Anwar telah mengkhianati kepercayaan rakyat Malaysia dan mengabaikan penderitaan rakyat Gaza.

Beliau sepatutnya menuntut pertanggungjawaban terhadap berbilion dolar bantuan Amerika yang membiayai mesin perang Israel, mengecam jenayah perang Israel terhadap hospital dan orang awam, menuntut penghentian penjualan senjata A.S. kepada Israel, serta mendesak Washington berhenti menggunakan kuasa vetonya di Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu untuk menghalang keadilan bagi Palestin. Namun sebaliknya, beliau memilih untuk memuji Trump dan mengambil hatinya.

Ini bukan diplomasi — ini adalah perbuatan menggadai maruah dan moral yang memalukan. Malaysia tidak boleh sekali-kali menggadaikan kebenaran demi keuntungan politik. Suara kita mesti sentiasa bersama yang tertindas, bukan membela penindas mereka.

Ketika Gaza terus berdarah, rakyat Malaysia tidak akan berdiam diri.

Amaran terbaru yang dikeluarkan oleh pihak polis terhadap penganjur demonstrasi yang dirancang sempena lawatan Presiden Amerika Syarikat, Donald Trump, bagi Sidang Kemuncak ASEAN merupakan satu pelanggaran jelas terhadap Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan penyalahgunaan kuasa.

Sebarang cubaan untuk menghalang atau menakut-nakutkan rakyat daripada melaksanakan hak perlembagaan mereka untuk berhimpun secara aman adalah satu tindakan yang mencabuli prinsip kedaulatan undang-undang dan menghakis asas demokrasi Malaysia.

Hak setiap warganegara untuk berhimpun secara aman dan tanpa senjata bukanlah satu keistimewaan yang boleh diberi atau ditarik balik mengikut budi bicara pihak berkuasa; ia merupakan kebebasan asasi yang dijamin di bawah Perkara 10(1)(b) Perlembagaan Persekutuan, dan menjadi tiang seri kepada penyertaan demokratik serta akauntabiliti awam.

Walaupun Perkara 10(2) membenarkan hak tersebut dikenakan sekatan yang dianggap perlu atau wajar oleh Parlimen demi kepentingan keselamatan atau ketenteraman awam, sekatan itu mestilah sentiasa munasabah, seimbang dan selaras dengan tujuan jaminan perlembagaan tersebut. Sebagai agensi penguatkuasaan undang-undang utama, pihak polis terikat secara perlembagaan dan perundangan untuk menghormati, melindungi serta memudahkan pelaksanaan hak ini.

Keputusan terkini Mahkamah Persekutuan telah menegaskan bahawa pihak polis mempunyai tanggungjawab positif untuk membolehkan dan membantu penganjuran perhimpunan aman, dan bahawa peranan mereka bukan untuk menekan atau menghalang perhimpunan sedemikian, tetapi untuk memastikan ia berlangsung dengan selamat dan mengikut undang-undang. Keputusan tersebut menegaskan bahawa hak untuk berhimpun tidak boleh diketepikan melalui keputusan pentadbiran atau kebimbangan spekulatif mengenai kemungkinan berlakunya kekacauan.
Sehubungan dengan itu, kenyataan polis yang menyatakan bahawa perhimpunan yang dicadangkan “tidak akan dibenarkan” serta ancaman untuk menyuraikan peserta adalah bertentangan dengan jaminan perlembagaan dan bercanggah dengan keputusan Mahkamah Persekutuan.

Kedudukan lokasi perhimpunan yang dicadangkan berhampiran “zon merah” Sidang Kemuncak ASEAN bukanlah alasan yang sah untuk mengharamkan perhimpunan tersebut, selagi para peserta tidak melintasi kawasan larangan rasmi yang telah ditetapkan. Hak untuk berhimpun secara aman di tempat awam tidak boleh dinafikan hanya kerana kedudukannya berhampiran acara rasmi atau kehadiran kenamaan.

Oleh itu, kami menyeru pihak polis untuk menarik balik ancaman tindakan penguatkuasaan dan sebaliknya berunding serta bekerjasama secara aktif dengan penganjur bagi memastikan demonstrasi berkenaan dapat dijalankan secara aman dan menurut lunas undang-undang.

Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy

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