Day: March 24, 2016

Six years on, family of slain Shah Alam schoolboy wins RM400,000 govt compensation

admin

Source: The Malay Mail Online

Aminulrasyid-signpost_170_135_100SHAH ALAM, March 24 — The family of Aminulrasyid Amzah, the 14-year-old killed by a patrolling police officer during a midnight joyride through the suburban streets of Shah Alam six years ago, won today their protracted court battle for damages against the government.

High Court Judge Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim in his ruling favouring the family said the then officer Jenain Subi had gone against the Inspector-General’s Standing Orders (IGSO) when he opened fire during the incident.

“The defendant’s action was careless, excessive and it went against the IGSO,” Ahmad Zaidi said in his court here.

He then ordered Jenain and other defendants to pay RM150,000 for damages caused by pain and suffering, another RM150,000 for aggravated damages.

The judge also ordered Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, who was the Selangor police chief the time, to pay RM100,000 for public misfeasance. Read more →

Halt the Execution of Gunasegar s/o Pitchaymuthu, J Ramesh s/o Jayakumar, and Sasivarnam s/o Jayakumar, and Abolish the Mandatory Death Penalty – Malaysian Bar

admin

PRESS RELEASE

The Malaysian Bar is extremely troubled over the reports of the imminent carrying out of the death sentence upon Gunasegar s/o Pitchaymuthu, J Ramesh s/o Jayakumar, and Sasivarnam s/o Jayakumar.  Their next-of-kin have been informed to schedule their final visit with them today, and to discuss the arrangements for burial.  The executions could be carried out as early as tomorrow, possibly at Taiping Prison.  This appears to be consistent with the practice of executing death row inmates early on a Friday morning.

All three of these death row prisoners were convicted under section 302, read with section 34, of the Penal Code, and their convictions were upheld by the Federal Court on 19 February 2014.  At the time of writing, we have no information as to whether applications for pardon were made for them or on their behalf. Read more →

Malaysia Considers Caning People Who Reveal State Secrets

admin

Source: WSJ

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—A push by Malaysia’s top law-enforcement official to use a British colonial-era punishment on people who reveal state secrets is dividing the government and sparking concerns in civil society.

Malaysia already administers the punishment—caning—to thousands of people a year who are convicted of crimes such as drug trafficking, rape, robbery and firearms possession. Human-rights groups and others deplore the practice, in which prisoners are whipped with a rattan stick, as inhumane. The government says it reduces recidivism; it hasn’t provided statistics to support that.

Now, as Prime Minister Najib Razak’s administration tries to contain a graft scandal at a state investment fund, his attorney general is proposing to also use caning on people found guilty of violating Malaysia’s Official Secrets Act. Under the act, officials can declare any document or information to be secret, restricted or classified. The government has said it suspects secret documents related to the investment fund were leaked. Read more →

FreedomFilmFest 2016 ‘What Lies Beneath’ – Open For Submissions

admin

 

Source: Pusat Komas/FreedomFilmFest

Komas-FFF2016-CallFreedomFilmFest (FFF), an international human rights documentary film festival, is calling for film submissions in line with this year’s theme ‘What Lies Beneath’. The festival will be held from 20 – 28 August 2016 at PJ Live Arts, Jaya One, Petaling Jaya.

The theme ‘What Lies Beneath’ reflects this homegrown festival’s ongoing mission to cast the spotlight on underrepresented human rights and public interest issues through the powerful medium of film. It is a call for everyone to dig deeper into the many urgent issues that individuals, groups, society and humanity are facing today.

Documentaries of up to 60 mins and short films of up to 20 mins completed after 2014 are eligible for submission. Films selected will go through a special jury selection to be nominated for the local, regional and international awards. Read more →

Nearly 4,000 Malaysian children went missing in 2014 and 2015

admin

Source: The Star Online

dewan_rakyat_signpost_2015_-_parliament_reportKUALA LUMPUR: A total of 3,937 children, aged between 6 to 18 years old, have been reported missing between 2014 until Jan this year, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Masir Kujat said the police have prioritised the cases of missing children as they could be linked to human trafficking.

“Based on police statistics, a total of 2015 children was reported missing in 2014, 1,782 cases reported in 2015 and 140 cases was reported as of Jan this year,” he told Ahmad Lai Bujai (BN-Sibuti) during Question Time. Read more →

Lawyer: Split decision shows hope remains for other non-Muslims keen on Shariah law

admin

Source: The Malay Mail Online

Victoria Jayaseele Martin (left) has lost her final battle in the courts to be admitted as a Shariah lawyer in the Federal Territories. ― Picture by Choo Choy May

Victoria Jayaseele Martin (left) has lost her final battle in the courts to be admitted as a Shariah lawyer in the Federal Territories. ― Picture by Choo Choy May

PUTRAJAYA, March 24 ― Victoria Jayaseele Martin may have exhausted all legal avenues to win the right to practice Shariah law but there may still be hope for others wanting the same, her lawyer said today.

Lawyer Ranjit Singh noted that two judges in today’s five-man Federal Court panel had ruled in Victoria’s favour, and said their decisions could possibly become law one day.

“It appears this is the final step of the journey, but it was a fun journey because constitutional law is always something that you have to push.

“And don’t forget we have two dissenting judgments, you will find that as life goes by, even in Malaysia and other countries, one day, maybe the dissent becomes the law but that’s something we’ll have to wait and see,” he told reporters here immediately after the Federal Court’s decision.

“But for current purposes, no-go, it’s over in this respect for my client… she would be very disappointed, but then again, she would respect the decision of this court,” he added.

Ranjit said Victoria, who was not present in court today, has a passion for Shariah law as shown by her diploma and Masters in the subject.

“So she is very passionate but this is as far as her passion will go, this is as far as her passion will take her, because her passion alone is not good enough to get her into the Shariah court,” he said. Read more →