Day: August 24, 2016

MACC to probe bribery allegations connected to illegal logging at Gua Musang

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Source: The Malay Mail Online

Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) – Gambar fail The Malaysian Insider

Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) – Gambar fail The Malaysian Insider

PASIR PUTEH, Aug 24 — Following a complaint lodged by the Orang Asli community in Gua Musang, the Kelantan Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has begun investigations into illegal logging activities there.

Its director, Datuk Moh Samsuddin Yusoff said based on complaints received, the case involved bribery in the form of cash, as well as supplies of rice and cigarettes from illegal loggers who intended to encroach the forest area near their village last month.

“We are currently determining the identity of the suspects offering the bribes. The Orang Asli’s practice not to accept bribes shows they are of high integrity.

“I hope other communities are also aware of the dangers of accepting bribes,” Moh Samsuddin told reporters when attending a seminar on the integrity of deforestation in the eastern zone (Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang)’ here today. Read more →

The laws of peaceful assembly — Syahredzan Johan

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Source: The Star

Syahredzan Johan is a young lawyer and partner of a legal firm in Kuala Lumpur. Pic taken from the Star.

Syahredzan Johan is a young lawyer and partner of a legal firm in Kuala Lumpur. Pic taken from the Star.

According to the Federal Constitution, the right to assembly peacefully may be restricted by Parliament. Parliament enacts laws that impose restrictions, as Parliament deems necessary or expedient in the interest of the security of the Federation or public order.

However, whatever restrictions imposed by Parliament must be reasonable as well as proportionate to the purpose the restriction was imposed in the first place.

There must be a nexus between the restriction and national security or public order. It also follows that arguments that peaceful assembly should not be allowed because it will inconvenience others is not a good reason to restrict freedom of assembly.

Previously under Section 27 of the Police Act, the organiser of an assembly must first obtain a license or ‘permit’ from the Officer in Charge of a Police District (OCPD) of that district before holding an assembly. Read more →

‘Govt cannot claim for damage’

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Source: The Star Online

Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan (left) and Maria Chin Abdullah speak to the media after the polls reform group's victory at the Court of Appeal, August 23, 2016. ― Picture by Ida Lim

Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan (left) and Maria Chin Abdullah speak to the media after the polls reform group’s victory at the Court of Appeal, August 23, 2016. ― Picture by Ida Lim

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has ruled in a landmark judgment that the Government has no right under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) to claim for damage to public property.

Yesterday, judge Justice Rohana Yusuf held that Section 6(2) of the Act, which outlined the responsibi­lities of the assembly organiser, did not give the Government a right to civil claims.

“We also find that Section 3 of the Government Proceedings Act does not entitle the Government to sue for negligence or claim for damages under common law,” said Justice Rohana, who chaired a three-man panel.

Others on the Bench were Court of Appeal judges Justices Varghese George Varughese and Mary Lim Thiam Suan.

“We have no reason to intervene with the findings of the trial judge who found that the appellant had failed to prove its case of negligence against the respondents based on evidence before him,” Justice Rohana said in reading out their unanimous decision. Read more →

Bersih 2.0 selamat, mahkamah tolak tuntutan kerajaan RM110,543.27

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Sumber: The Malay Mail Online

 

Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan (tiga, kanan) bersama puluhan ribu penyokong demonstrasi Bersih 4 di Kuala Lumpur pada 29 Ogos 2015. — Foto oleh Choo Choy May

Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan (tiga, kanan) bersama puluhan ribu penyokong demonstrasi Bersih 4 di Kuala Lumpur pada 29 Ogos 2015. — Foto oleh Choo Choy May

PUTRAJAYA, 24 Ogos — Mahkamah Rayuan menolak rayuan kerajaan dalam saman sivil difailkannya terhadap jawatankuasa pemandu Bersih berhubung kerosakan ke atas harta benda awam dalam perhimpunan Bersih 3 pada 2012.

Dalam keputusan sebulat suara, panel tiga hakim dipengerusikan Hakim Datuk Rohana Yusuf mengekalkan keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi pada 30 Januari tahun lepas yang menolak saman kerajaan bagi menuntut ganti rugi.

Beliau berkata mahkamah mendapati tiada peruntukan dalam Akta Perhimpunan Aman (PAA) yang secara jelas menetapkan hak kerajaan untuk membuat tuntutan.

Katanya, Seksyen 6(2) PAA tidak mewujudkan “satu hak tuntutan sivil oleh kerajaan” dan kerajaan persekutuan pada masa sama juga tidak diberikan hak untuk menyaman bagi kecuaian di bawah undang-undang lain.

“Kami juga mendapati Seksyen 3, Akta Prosiding Kerajaan, dibaca bersama-sama Seksyen 39 akta sama, tidak memberikan hak kepada kerajaan untuk menyaman bagi kecuaian atau menuntut ganti rugi di bawah ‘common law’,” kata Rohana. Read more →