Day: May 22, 2018

Improve gender equality, JAG tells Pakatan government

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Source: The Malay Mail

PETALING JAYA, May 22—The Women and Family Development ministry must focus on human rights and gender equality, instead of merely reinforcing stereotypical associations of women with family, children, and welfare, says Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG).

In a statement today, the coalition called upon the new Pakatan Harapan government to launch institutional reforms aimed at advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.

These reforms, said the coalition, should include strengthening the ministry’s authority to make decisions on women’s advancement.

“Pakatan Harapan must also strengthen and empower government machinery and organisations responding to gender equality issues,” it said.

“This includes providing adequate resources to the Welfare department, One-Stop Crisis Centres, and the Royal Malaysian Police Sexual Crimes Unit.” Read more →

Bersih: Free and fair media coverage needed for a more democratic Malaysia

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Source: The Malay Mail

Pakatan Harapan supporters at Padang Timur Petaling Jaya. Picture by – Zuraneeza Zulkifli

PETALING JAYA, May 22 — Electoral reform movement Bersih 2.0 maintained the need for free and fair media coverage of all sides of the political divide, as the country collectively embraces a new dawn and a new Malaysia.

Following the fall of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government after holding power for 61 years since independence, Bersih 2.0 said media and broadcasting organisations are now able to cover events organised by the current government and former Opposition coalition, Pakatan Harapan (PH), which the mainstream media had shunned before.

“However, it is important that the media should start a new chapter by giving equal media coverage to all political parties and abandon the old habits of providing one-sided stories in favour of the ruling parties as under BN’s era.

“The taxpayer-funded state media such as radio and television stations should no longer serve the government of the day, but to also provide equal media coverage to all sides for taxpayers to make informed decisions,” the Bersih 2.0 steering committee said in a statement today. Read more →

Muhyiddin: Home ministry to review seven ‘unsuitable’ national security laws

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Source: The Malay Mail

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin speaks at the Department of Home Affairs in Putrajaya May 22, 2018. ― Picture by Miera Zulyana

PUTRAJAYA, May 22 — The Home Ministry will review seven laws relating to national security which are no longer suitable in today’s landscape, said the new Home Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said these laws were the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, Sedition Act 1948, Peaceful Assembly Act 2012,  Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (Poca), Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 (Pota), and mandatory death sentence.

Muhyiddin said the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), non-governmental organisations and social activists would be asked to give their views on these laws.

“These laws will be reviewed and, if necessary, replaced. It will need a bit of time, but not up to five years until the next general election,” he told reporters when asked for the time needed to complete the review.

Muhyiddin was speaking at his first press conference as the new Home Minister after attending a briefing given by heads of departments and agencies under the ministry. — Bernama

Muhyiddin: IPCMC in the pipeline

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Source: The Malay Mail

HAKAM Comment: Let us hope that pipeline isn’t going to be a long one that it ends up being a pipe dream! Syabas PH government! 

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin speaks at the Department of Home Affairs in Putrajaya May 22, 2018. ― Picture by Miera Zulyana

PUTRAJAYA, May 22 — The new Pakatan Harapan federal government is in the process of establishing an Independent Police Complaints-Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), Minister of Home Affairs Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

Muhyiddin made the announcement here on the first day at work as home affairs minister under a new ruling coalition that took over on May 9.

The Pagoh MP said the setting up of the commission is part of the pledges made by PH in its election manifesto. The four-party coalition had vowed to reform the police force.

“It’s a longstanding idea so we are looking into it,” Muhyiddin told a press conference at the ministry’s main office here.

Police reform was a key election promise of PH, a point Muhyiddin stressed today as he vowed to see through the coalition’s promises to uphold civil liberties. Read more →