He said based on last year’s statistics, there were a total of 78 peaceful gatherings, including 19 in Kuala Lumpur, 15 in Penang, nine in Perak, eight in Selangor, and one in Kedah.

Saifuddin pointed out that while investigation papers had been opened against the organisers, no charges had been brought against them.

“So if there are parties who claim that their freedom of speech has been suppressed, nobody would believe them, because they were allowed to assemble. If the police investigate, it’s more to give advice,” he said in a media conference at the home ministry here.

The media conference was held following a gathering outside Istana Negara yesterday, organised by NGO Pembela Tanah Air.

Saifuddin said the organiser had failed to notify the police of the event as required by the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

He said the police were investigating another report lodged by a palace official who dismissed claims that the organiser had been granted an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

NGO coordinator Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, claimed that the gathering aimed to show support for the palace over allegations that Perikatan Nasional had offered it RM1 billion to help unseat the unity government.