Day: October 27, 2015

Malaysia heading towards harmonising shariah, common law, Zahid says

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Source: The Malaysian Insider

Malaysia is progressing towards harmonising and bridging the gap between shariah and common law, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today.

“Actually, if we trace the history of the development of our legal system, the process of harmonisation of shariah and common law has been going on for more than two decades in this country.

“This is truly important in fostering a credible, efficient and conducive legal framework and dynamic regulatory environment.

“Today, we can clearly witness the influence of common law on the rules of procedure and evidence that are now being used in the shariah courts and the application of Islamic law administered by the civil courts,” he said at the opening of the “3rd International Seminar on Syariah and Common Law” at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia in Nilai today. Read more →

Global rights group slams Putrajaya for ‘binge’ on prosecution of critics

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Source: The Malay Mail Online

HRW’s Brad Adams says the government is making a mockery of its claims to democracy and fundamental rights by treating criticism as a crime. ― Picture by Mayuri Mei Lin

HRW’s Brad Adams says the government is making a mockery of its claims to democracy and fundamental rights by treating criticism as a crime. ― Picture by Mayuri Mei Lin

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 ― Malaysia’s government has been accused of turning its back on pledged reforms and instead used criminal laws to crack down on its critics, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report.

The 145-page report cited a long list of arrests of people seen to be critical of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his administration, and also the suspension of two newspapers, the blocking of websites and the declaration that peaceful protests were unlawful.

“Malaysia has gone on a binge of prosecutions of critics,” Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, was quoted as saying, claiming that Najib had broken promises to revise laws that criminalise peaceful expression.

“The government is making a mockery of its claims to democracy and fundamental rights by treating criticism as a crime,” Adams added. Read more →

Spooked Orang Asli parents shun Pos Tohoi school after 4 kids die

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Source: The Malaysian Insider

Children from the Temiar tribe outside their home in Kampung Penad, Kelantan. Education is important but the Orang Asli parents in this remote village have decided to withdraw their children from SK Tohoi. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 27, 2015.

The Orang Asli from villages in the interiors of Gua Musang, Kelantan, have decided to stop sending their children back to the SK Tohoi boarding school, from where seven pupils had run away and got lost in the jungle for more than a month.

They are adamant their 60-odd children stay away from the school situated some two hours through logging tracks from their villages.

The Orang Asli folk are blaming the boarding school for recklessness and refusal to take responsibility for the incident, which left four of the victims dead.

Kelantan Orang Asli Village Network youth chief Dendi Johari said the Orang Asli, who are from the Temiar tribe, have refused to send their children to the school for fear of what had happened to the seven children. Read more →