Low, who is in charge of governance, integrity and human rights, explained that a recent rally in support of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority was a form of freedom of expression which Malaysia upholds.
“Some people think they are guests , but if you want to give them the democratic space because they are already here, then they must obey the laws of the country,” he told reporters when asked to comment on concerns by some quarters whether non-citizens could exercise the right to assemble.
On Wednesday, about 1,000 protesters gathered near a major road in Kuala Lumpur calling for an end to violence against the minority Rohingya people in Myanmar.
Some of the demonstrators wept and claimed that their families were being killed, while others waved banners that read “Stop Rohingya genocide” and “Save Rohingya”.
The demonstration was peaceful but about 20 protesters were arrested for alleged immigration offences.
A smaller protest was also held outside the Myanmar embassy.
Low expressed hope that the freedom given to the Rohingya community to hold a rally will not be misconstrued as Putrajaya’s criticism of the Myanmar government.
“This is done independently,” he said.
There are almost 60,000 Rohingya refugees in Malaysia, according to the United Nations, where they form part of a large workforce of immigrants doing low-skilled jobs spurned by locals in the relatively affluent country.
Persecution of the Rohingya, reviled as illegal immigrants by the majority Buddhist population in Myanmar, has caused much anger in Malaysia and across the Muslim world.
Last December, Malaysia officially held a protest rally against the oppression of the Rohingya people, with Prime Minister Najib Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and his number two Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man leading the rally which was jointly organised by Umno and PAS.
Thousands of Rohingya refugees also joined in the Dec 4 rally, which was held at the Stadium Titiwangsa here.
Najib, Hadi share stage to protest violence against Rohingyas