The Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 came into force on 23 April 2012. The objective of the Act is to provide for the right to assemble peaceably and without arms. When the Bill was first tabled, it was stated that the Peaceful Assembly Act would be one of the efforts initiated by the Government of Malaysia to undertake transformation of the then existing legal framework relating to the constitutional rights of citizens to assemble.

This Act contains 27 Sections and 4 Schedules which seeks to provide restrictions deemed necessary or expedient relating to the right to assemble peacefully and without arms in the interest of the security of the Federation or public order. Readers will find the editorial notes in the Explanatory Statements useful as these notes reflect the changes to the provisions of the Act after its enactment.

Table of Contents

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART I
PRELIMINARY
Section
1 Short title, commencement and non-application
2 Objects
3 Interpretation

PART II
RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE PEACEABLY AND WITHOUT ARMS
4 Right to organize assembly or participate in assembly
5 Right of person who has interests

PART III
RESPONSIBILITIES OF ORGANIZERS, PARTICIPANTS AND POLICE
6 Responsibilities of organizers
7 Responsibilities of participants
8 Responsibilities of police

PART IV
REQUIREMENTS ON ORGANIZING OF ASSEMBLY
9 Notification of assembly
10 Requirements regarding notification of assembly
11 Consent of owner or occupier of place of assembly
12 Requirement to inform persons who have interests
13 Meeting with organizer
14 Response to notification of assembly
15 Restrictions and condition
16 Appeal on restrictions and conditions
17 Simultaneous assemblies
18 Counter assembly
19 Presumption as to organizer

PART V
ENFORCEMENT
20 Power of arrest
21 Power to disperse assembly

PART VI
MISCELLANEOUS
22 Maintenance of register
23 Recordings
24 Media access
25 Designated place of assembly
26 Power to amend Schedules
27 Regulations

FIRST SCHEDULE ? Prohibited Places
SECOND SCHEDULE ? Assemblies in Which a Child May
Participate
THIRD SCHEDULE ? Assemblies For Which Notification Is Not
Required
FOURTH SCHEDULE ? Notification under Subsection 9(1)