Call upon the Menteri Besar of Perak to direct all Local Councils in Perak to repeal the Park Bye-laws
Press Statement
by M Kula Segaran
(Ipoh,
Saturday):
The Park Bye-law which has caused a great controversy with Ipoh folks
has now been suspended of its operation by the Menteri Besar (MB) of Perak.
The decision was made after a full executive council meeting on Wednesday.
DAP urges the MB to issue a directive canceling all summons which was issued
earlier and at the same time to provide some form of compensation to the
victims as they were summoned for an non-existence offence under the
bye-laws. Further, immediate steps ought to be taken to repeal the offensive
bye-laws which is against the very spirit of caring and loving society which
is being promoted in this country. Some of the victim have suffered mental
trauma and as a result feel extremely shy to go out with their friends of
opposite sex. Since when it is the duty of the Ipoh mayor to be our moral
guardian ? Don't impose Taliban style of administration on to the people.
It is reported that more than 150 summons had been issued for indecent
behaviour by the city council of Ipoh alone although the summons if any
should be for "disorderly behaviour" as stated in Rule 8 of the bye-laws.
The bye-laws rules states as follows:
8 (1) Any person found in behaving in disorderly
manner in any park commits an offence.
(2)Any person committing any act in contravention of any of the provisions
of these bye-laws may be ordered out of any park by the President or any
officer authorized in writing by him or a police officer and may be refused
admission subsequently.
(3) Any person refusing to obey such order under Paragraph(2) may, with
reasonable force be removed from such park.
The DAP is given to understand that other local and municipal council in
Perak has such provision like that of the Ipoh local council and therefore
the other local council is also empowered to issue summon under the
bye-laws.
Can the MB or the Chairman for Local government and Urban Development Dato
Chang Kou Youn state publicly the numbers of summons that had been issued
under the above bylaw by the other local councils in Perak .
With the suspension of the Park bye-laws, inIpoh, what about the other local
councils which are having similar bye-laws. Failure to suspend/repeal the
bye-laws would mean discriminatory imposition of an offence in different
districts of the state although they came under one State Administration. To
bring about consistency in the civil administration all Park bye laws in the
other districts of Perak need also to be repealed.
The DAP demands all Local Councils In Perak including the Ipoh City Hall to
convene an emergency full board meeting to legally and officially repeal the
bye-laws forthwith.
(7/6/2003)
* M.Kulasegaran, DAP Deputy Secretary-General and Perak DAP Secretary
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