PETALING JAYA: There are no signs of PKR stopping its series of Black 505 rallies as it announced yesterday that more gatherings are being organised nationwide over the coming weeks.

The next rally will be on June 10 in Perlis, June 11 (Sungai Petani, Kedah), June 12 (Kota Baru, Kelantan) and June 14 (Batu Pahat, Johor).

The dates for gatherings in Sabah and Sarawak will be announced soon, said Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul.

“The rallies have become a new symbol of political awareness and represent the 51% [who voted for Pakatan Rakyat in the 13th general election] who are in support of reforms and changes in this country.

“We won’t stop until Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the Election Commission (EC) agree to our demands,” he told a press conference at the PKR headquarters here.

Supporters of the rally are demanding for the resignation of the top EC officials; for fresh elections to be conducted in 30 parliamentary seats; and to postpone the redelineation exercise or making amendments to the election law until the top EC officials have been replaced.  

PKR, in fact, wants the government to seek the consent of the party and civil society groups before making the new EC appointments.

Johari also assured the coming rallies will comply with the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA), especially the provision regarding the 10-day notification period.

Several Pakatan leaders in Penang, Perak, Negri Sembilan and Johor were charged in court earlier this week for failing to comply with the 10-day notification period when organising the Blackout 505 rallies in their respective states.

They were charged under Section 9(1) of the PAA and if found guilty, they face a maximum fine of RM10,000.

At yesterday’s press conference, PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli took a stab at those who criticised the rally, including some academics who argued that the continuous rallies are not helpful to the people or the nation.

“The majority of Malaysians want the allegations of fraud and misconduct in the 13th general election to be dealt with first before national reconciliation,” he said.

In reference to the large turnout of people at the rallies nationwide, he said electoral fraud is a galvanising issue.

“The rallies have managed to bring together Malaysians more so than any school, university or office activity has. There is a sense of belonging,” he said.

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This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on May 30, 2013.