KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 -- Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) revealed that there were only 91 investigations and arrests from public assemblies last year, which was half that seen in 2022, and said it indicated better respect for the constitutional right to assemble.

However, the human rights watchdog revealed that the police have asked organisers to seek consent from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) before assembling at public places in Kuala Lumpur such as Dataran Merdeka.

"It is a property of the public.

"City Hall is merely a guardian of the public space," Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy said during a press conference after its 2023 Human Rights Report launch here, today.

He added that since they usually take place in public sp...