Day: December 10, 2015

Malaysia among nations least tolerant of atheists and freethinkers, says report

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Source: The Malay Mail Online

GENEVA, Dec 10 — Amid a global decline in religious belief, some governments are stepping up efforts to portray atheists and secularists as a danger to society and even as terrorists, according to a report issued today.

The study, by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), pointed to “hate campaigns” launched by public figures against those who renounce the dominant or state religion in Muslim nations like Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Egypt.

It said “the overwhelming majority of countries fail to respect the rights of atheists and freethinkers” as set out in UN treaties, adding that 13 states, all of them Muslim, had made apostasy or blasphemy against religion a capital offence. Read more →

Demi Kepentingan Keselamatan Negara – Robyn Choi

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Terbitan Istimewa HAKAM sempena sambutan Hari Hak Asasi Manusia 2015
#HAKAM-MMO Human Rights Day 2015 project

DEMI KEPENTINGAN KESELAMATAN NEGARA
(Rang Undang-undang Majlis Keselamatan Negara 2015)

Karangan ROBYN CHOI

“Kerajaan bertanggungjawab pada setiap masa untuk menegakkan dan mempertahankan hak-hak rakyat untuk keadilan, kesaksamaan, kebebasan dan maruah,” – Raja Aziz Addruse

Berita Terkini:
1 Disember 2015: Rang Undang-undang Majlis Keselamatan Negara 2015 – DR 38/2015 (“RUU – MKN 2015”) dibentangkan di Parlimen
3 Disember 2015: RUU – MKN 2015 diluluskan oleh Dewan Rakyat pada jam 10.55 malam.
3 Disember 2015: Perdana Menteri (PM) dan seorang menteri cabinet menafikan terdapatnya apa-apa kebimbangan keselamatan, malah Ketua Polis Negara juga mengesahkan yang keadaan dalam negeri Malaysia cukup selamat untuk bermain tuan rumah kepada satu pertandingan skuasy antarabangsa. Read more →

In the interest of national security – Robyn Choi

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EXCLUSIVE, published in collaboration with MMO
>> Read original article in Bahasa Malaysia 

BY ROBYN CHOI

The NSC Bill was passed last Thursday in the Dewan Rakyat by a vote of 107 for and 74 against. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng

The NSC Bill was passed last Thursday in the Dewan Rakyat by a vote of 107 for and 74 against. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng

OPINION, Dec 10 — After the National Security Council (NSC) Bill was tabled, it was met with condemnation by civil society especial human rights groups, the Malaysian Bar Council and many netizens.

The NSC Bill was said to be insidious, unconstitutional and violates human rights, a “tool for repression”, “an assault on democracy” and “an abuse of human rights”.

Against the backdrop of recent events relating to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and the “RM2.6 billion donation”, exacerbated by the prosecution of critics and whistleblowers, there is fear that the NSC Bill will establish a “dictatorship rule” or a “police state.” Read more →

Bar welcomes panel to study high profile cases before going to A-G

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Source: The Malaysian Insider

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) – The Malaysian Insider file pic, December 10, 2015.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) – The Malaysian Insider file pic, December 10, 2015.

The Malaysian Bar has lent support to a proposal by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Special Committee for an independent panel to study investigation papers involving high-profile cases before they are submitted to the attorney-general (A-G).

“The proposal by the Special Committee are a step in the right direction and they deserve undivided support,” its president Steven Thiru said in a statement to The Malaysian Insider. [see below for referred statement]

The Bar also repeated its support for the office of the A-G to be separated from the office of public prosecutor.

The proposal for an independent panel to vet investigation papers before they go to the A-G is among several suggestions by the MACC committee in its 2014 corruption report to Putrajaya and Parliament early this month.

The committee is one of five independent MACC oversight panels.

The current practice is for agencies like Bank Negara Malaysia, the police and the MACC to submit investigation papers to the A-G, who has the sole discretion whether to prosecute offenders. Read more →

Trials of high profile individuals charged under the Sedition Act 1948 ongoing

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Malaysia Sedition Act - cartoon by Zunar

Malaysia Sedition Act – cartoon by Zunar

Several well-known Malaysians who have been charged with offences under the Sedition Act 1948 are currently facing trial at the Sessions Court.

 

ZUNAR

Zulkiflee Anwar Haque, better known as Zunar - pic from www.zunar.my

Zulkiflee Anwar Haque, better known as Zunar – pic from www.zunar.my

Zulkiflee Bin SM Anwarul Haque, better known as Zunar, charged with nine counts of sedition under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948, had his trial commenced on 16 November 2015. It continues at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on 8 and 15 December 2015 (Criminal Sessions Court 10 / MSJ 10 ).

Related Articles

[1] Zunar fights Malaysian government ‘vendetta’ over cartoons [11 Nov 2015]
[2] Malaysian political cartoonist Zunar ready to face multiple Sedition Act charges [10 Nov 2015]

Read more →