Malaysian MP convicted for illegal assembly

November 10, 2000
Web posted at: 12:24 PM HKT (0424 GMT)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (Reuters) -- A Malaysian court has convicted an opposition member of parliament and three other people for protesting against a visiting Israeli cricket team three years ago, court officials said on Friday.

Mahfuz Omar, leader of the youth wing of the main opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS), chose to spend a month in jail rather than pay a 1,500-ringgit ($395) fine following a verdict on Thursday.

The decision comes amid growing debate over the right to assembly in this country of 23 million.

More than 120 people were arrested at a rally last Sunday in support of jailed former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim. They are scheduled to appear in court on Friday.

Police are expected to ask for an extension of their remand order, issued on Monday, to continue investigations.

The Malaysian Human Rights Commission said on Wednesday it would investigate police action during the Sunday rally of 5,000 people after some protesters said they were beaten and then refused medical treatment.

The commission also said it was "conducting its own study of laws and procedures governing the right to peaceful assembly and will make its recommendations to the authorities."

Any assembly of three or more people requires a police permit.

Mahfuz and about 50 other PAS members and supporters had gathered at the University of Malaya in 1997 to protest the presence of the Israeli cricket team.

Mainly Muslim Malaysia does not have diplomatic ties with Israel because of that country's dispute with the Palestinians but allowed the visit by the Israeli team.

Mahfuz's lawyer, Mohamed Hanipa Maidin said Thursday's verdict had "destroyed the democracy of the country."

Under Malaysian law, a member of parliament loses his seat if he was sentenced to two years in jail or fined 2,000 ringgit. This means Mahfuz will retain his seat.

Anwar is serving a 15-year jail term for sodomy and corruption, charges he says were fabricated by political opponents in government led by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

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