The housing and local government minister said the Peaceful Assembly Act must be reviewed to better facilitate these gatherings.

She said this in response to the police probe into participants of a gathering in support of Undi18, allowing 18-year-olds to vote, in front of Parliament last week.

Peaceful protests, she said, should instead be facilitated by the police “while taking into account legitimate public order concerns”.

“The right of the protesters to peacefully gather and express their views must be defended, provided Covid-19 rules are adhered to.

“I am concerned and will raise this matter at the Cabinet meeting,” Zuraida said in a statement today.

However, Zuraida said she did not believe that police were out to oppress anyone and that they were only carrying out their responsibilities under the provisions of the Act.

Last month, about 100 demonstrators had marched towards Parliament but stopped at Padang Merbok where they held a silent sitting vigil for 18 minutes.

Among those who took part in the gathering were former deputy minister Hannah Yeoh, Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah and members of electoral reform group Bersih 2.0.

Some had already been called in by police to give their statements.

Their actions were in response to the Election Commission’s announcement that the automatic registration of 18-year-olds as voters can only be implemented after September next year.