Day: May 14, 2016

Deep concern over corporal punishment against children in schools — Suhakam

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Source: The Malay Mail Online

SUHAKAMMAY 14 — The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (“the Commission”) welcomes the recent proposal by the Ministry of Education Malaysia that schools will be given more authority in managing and addressing disciplinary issues among students as part of an amendment to the Education (School Discipline) Regulations 1959.

However, the Commission is deeply concerned that such methods will include corporal punishment, particularly since the Child (Amendment) Bill 2015 now substitutes the punishment of whipping on male child offenders with community service instead.

The Commission is of the view that there is a mistaken belief held not only by individuals, but is also widespread in various societies and endorsed at Government level that corporal punishment is an effective form of discipline for children. Read more →

Bersih mulls legal action over alleged Sarawak poll offences

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Source: The Malay Mail Online

Bersih 2.0 chair Maria Chin said its Pemantau observers reported seven types of offences that took place repeatedly throughout the 12-day campaigning period during last week’s Sarawak polls.― File pic

Bersih 2.0 chair Maria Chin said its Pemantau observers reported seven types of offences that took place repeatedly throughout the 12-day campaigning period during last week’s Sarawak polls.― File pic

MMO file pic

MMO file pic

PETALING JAYA, May 13 ― Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 is considering legal options to compel the Election Commission (EC) to act on multiple cases of alleged offences during last week’s Sarawak polls.

Bersih 2.0 chair Maria Chin said its Pemantau observers reported seven types of offences that took place repeatedly throughout the 12-day campaigning period, and a full report will be given to the EC within a month.

“We will do what we can. We will be bringing it to the attention of the parliamentarians, and the public and to shame the EC, that’s what we can do,” Chin told reporters here at the Bersih 2.0 office.

“We can only be a pressure group. We are looking into legal options, but bear in my mind we have lost most of our cases.”

The seven categories of offences that Pemantau reported are bribery, unauthorised expenses during campaigning, intimidation, providing free food and drinks at campaign events, campaigning on polling day, ferrying of voters to polling station, and use of government vehicles. Read more →

How serious is the Malaysian Election Commission in bringing about free, fair and clean elections? — M Kula Segaran

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Source: The Malay Mail Online

BY M KULA SEGARAN

MAY 14 — Polling for the Tamil Nadu (India) state election will be held on Mayth 16. The state election involves a total 234 constituencies and over over 70 million eligible voters.

YB A. Sivanesan, YB Kesawan, Segaran (DAP Ipoh Barat Chairman), VK Vembarasan (DAP Klang), Sdr. Rajalingam and Mohd. Arafat (PKR Tambun chief) and I have arrived in Chennai on May 6 to witness the election.

We toured the many areas in the state for the next 5 days to get an insight of the election without any assistance from the relevant authority. On May 12th and 13th, we were given briefings by the State Election Commissioner and his subordinates.

Thereafter we attended a 2 days briefing on the do’s and don’ts of the General State Elections at the Election Commissioner’s office of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The head of Election Commission, Mr. Chandran Mohan and others briefed us and took questions from us. Read more →