CHAPTER 2 - REPORT OF THE COMPLAINTS AND INQUIRIES WORKING GROUP Monitoring of assembly and dissemination of information to the public and the police On 1 January, a monitoring team went to Dataran MBPJ, Petaling Jaya, where a peaceful assembly was being organised by two groups of university students, Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam SeMalaysia and Himpunan Mahasiswa untuk Malaysia. At the venue, the organisers told the Commission’s team that they did not have a permit to hold the assembly as required under Section 27(2) of the Police Act 1967.4 However, following discussions between the organiser and the police officer in charge with the Commission’s team acting as mediators, the police allowed the assembly to proceed but within a set time period. There were no untoward incidents. 4 Section 27 - Power to regulate assemblies, meetings and processions (2) Any person intending to convene or collect any assembly or meeting or to form a procession in any public place aforesaid, shall before convening, collecting or forming such assembly, meeting or procession make to the officer-in-charge of the police district in which such assembly, meeting or procession is to be held an application for a licence in that behalf, and if such police officer is satisfied that the assembly, meeting or procession is not likely to be prejudicial to the interest of the security of Malaysia or any part thereof or to excite a disturbance of the peace, he shall issue a licence in such form as may be prescribed specifying the name of the licensee and defining the conditions upon which such assembly, meeting or procession is permitted: Provided that such police officer may at any time on any ground for which the issue of a licence under this subsection may be refused, cancel such licence. 47