by NUR HAZIQAH A MALEK / pic by BERNAMA

HOUSING and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin (second from right) said discussions are still ongoing for the review of the Peaceful Assembly Act for facilitating public gatherings.

She said she is currently looking into the review, but there are a few things that need to be done prior to any decision.

“We have to discuss further, the committee has to be set up, it cannot be an immediate decision.

“There is still a lot of process to go through,” she said at the launch of the “Sebuah Kehidupan” campaign headed by actress and Yayasan Seni Karya Prihatin chairman Fatimah Rahmad Ali, or better known as Erma Fatima (left).

The review followed her backing recently, after protesters including MPs and civil society activists were detained for participation in the Undi 18 rally.

She said she firmly believes in the freedom of assembly as stated in the Federal Constitution, and that the law needs to be reviewed to better facilitate peaceful public assemblies that should not be subject to police investigation.

Separately, the Ampang MP said she believed the voice that was supposed to be a phone call between Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was the latter’s voice.

“I listened to it and after being in the party for 20 years, I believe that is Anwar’s voice,” she said.

The conversation was allegedly believed to have taken place after the recent Umno general assembly, however, both parties have denied speaking to each other.

On the launch of the campaign, Zuraida congratulated Erma Fatima for the development which was headed under the latter’s brand as a character and her business, Mak Cun.

“This marks another chapter for her as Mak Cun, not only in the drama but also in business.

“This is not only business, but it is also her way of helping people who are in need, which is going to start with Ramadhan and might be continued until after the fact,” she said.

The campaign is Erma Fatima’s move to provide a portion of its earnings to the welfare centres and orphanages, where every RM60 of the combination of items purchased will see RM10 being spent for these centres involving people in need.

The combinations of items are Malaysian-made products, including Kacip Fatimah from Kopi Badang brand, as well as sambal kicap from the brand Maji.