BY GURDIAL SINGH NIJAR
(Deputy President, HAKAM)
ONCE again the hounds are baying for blood. I refer to the calls by some ministers to act against NGOs such as Bersih; and professional bodies such as the Malaysian Bar. As well as media outlets, such as Malaysiakini. On various grounds — such as the receipt of funds from foreign sources; and for (Bersih) organising rallies which could provoke violence.
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 — Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) is hosting a series of four gender equality talks in conjunction with the worldwide 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.
16 Days of Activism begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, 25 November, and culminates on Human Rights Day, 10 December. Throughout the campaign, communities across the world take action to end violence against women and girls.
“We join the chorus of activists worldwide, advocating for gender equality. We want to raise awareness about women’s rights at home and at work,” says WAO Executive Director Sumitra Visvanathan. “Many women in Malaysia experience domestic violence, sexual harassment, and workplace discrimination. We need to talk about this.” Read more
OLEH SYAHREDZAN JOHAN
Syahredzan Johan – file pic
DI negara ini, kebebasan untuk berhimpun adalah hak yang dilindungi oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Semua rakyat Malaysia mempunyai hak untuk berhimpun tanpa senjata.
Hak ini sememangnya bukan mutlak. Perlembagaan Persekutuan membenarkan hak ini untuk disekat oleh Parlimen. Parlimen boleh menggubal undang-undang yang mengenakan sekatan yang perlu bagi kepentingan keselamatan Persekutuan atau ketenteraman awam. Namun demikian, apa-apa sekatan yang dikenakan harus berkadar dengan tujuan sekatan itu dikenakan. Sekatan yang keterlaluan, melangkaui tujuan kepentingan keselamatan Persekutuan atau ketenteraman awam adalah tidak berperlembagaan.
Akta Perhimpunan Aman (APA) adalah undang-undang yang utama berkenaan dengan perhimpunan aman di Malaysia. Harus diingati bahawa Akta ini hanya mengendalikan perhimpunan aman tanpa senjata dan bukannya rusuhan, protes ganas dan sebagainya. Oleh itu, sekiranya terdapat apa-apa perhimpunan yang mana pemprotes membuat ugutan untuk memudaratkan orang atau merosakkan harta benda, maka perhimpunan itu bukan lagi sebuah perhimpunan aman dan pihak berkuasa sewajarnya mengambil tindakan di bawah Kanun Keseksaan.
Sebelum ini di bawah Seksyen 27 Akta Polis, penganjur sebuah perhimpunan seharusnya mendapatkan permit daripada pegawai yang menjaga daerah polis (OCPD) di mana perhimpunan itu akan diadakan. Sekiranya suatu perhimpunan dilangsungkan tanpa permit, maka perhimpunan itu menjadi perhimpunan haram dan sesiapa yang menghadiri perhimpunan itu melakukan kesalahan. Read more
Dr. Maimunah Fadzil, a gynecologist in a Malacca hospital, revealed at least 3 children are being treated for sexual abuse every week. Pic from NST.
MALACCA: A Malacca Hospital gynaecologist has dropped a bombshell by coming forward to reveal that at least three children are treated for sexual abuse at the facility every week.
Dr Maimunah Fadzil said the number usually rises during school holidays and festive periods, when children spend more time at home. In most cases, she said, children willingly fall into the trap. Dr Mainumah added that some of the children have even become “addicted” to being sexually abused.
She attributed the shockingly high statistic to lack of close parental supervision, as well as an alarming trend in children taking part in immoral activities performed by the adults around them. Read more
Court does not accept the Pandan MP’s claim on why he could not file defence to charges under the Official Secrets Act (OSA). Pic from FMT News.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court today sentenced PKR’s Rafizi Ramli to 18 months’ jail over two charges of leaking a classified 1MDB audit report.
Justice Zulqarnian Hassan said Rafizi would serve concurrently the 18 months’ prison sentence for each of the offences.
In an immediate reaction, the PKR secretary-general, who risks losing his status as the Pandan MP following the decision, said he would file an appeal.
Earlier, Zulqarnian said Rafizi had failed to raise reasonable doubt on the prosecution’s case. Read more
Chian (left) and Ong Jing Yan, 35, look at the barrier after it was completed last week. — Picture by Marcus Pheong, the Malay Mail Online.
IPOH, Nov 14 — Villagers in Kuala Kurau, Kerian, about 110km from here, were distraught after the barrier they built near the river mouth failed to prevent sea water from overflowing during a king tide yesterday morning.
Food seller Chian Woei Yeong, 39, said the villagers were disappointed their efforts failed to prevent flooding.
“We thought the barrier we raised would stop water from overflowing during the king tide but our hopes were dashed when we saw the roads beside the river flooded,” he told Malay Mail yesterday.
“We were lucky no houses or shops were affected but we are worried about the next few days.”
Chian said the villagers were expecting a higher tide today and feared that this time, the water could reach their houses some 100m from the river. Read more
Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (pic) said he takes courage from jailed de facto Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, whom he said reminded the public that “only courage scares the bad guys in this world”. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng, the Malay Mail.
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 — Former minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has pledged that he will not sugar-coat his answers and tell the truth when the police question him for an allegedly seditious tweet.
Zaid said he takes courage from jailed de facto Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, whom he said reminded the public that “only courage scares the bad guys in this world”.
“The police have kindly agreed to see me for questioning at Bukit Aman on Wednesday 16 November at around 11am. I will be careful with my answers, but as my friends should know, when the police question someone he or she is bound by law to answer them truthfully.
“I will be truthful and I will be candid. If I think there was a cover-up I will say so,” Zaid wrote in his blog today. Read more