Day: July 25, 2017

Borneo lawyers want Raus, Zulkefli to reconsider posts

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: FMT News 

PETALING JAYA: Sabah and Sarawak lawyer groups have urged Chief Justice Raus Sharif and Court of Appeal president Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin to consider the potential risk to public confidence in the judiciary in deciding whether to remain in office after their mandatory retirement age.

The groups said they had no doubts as to the sterling character and capability of both judges and the constitutional powers bestowed upon the king under Article 122 (1A) of the Federal Constitution.

“However, it is clear that the timing and mode of the appointments/extensions certainly give rise to various issues raised and specifically on the public perception and confidence in the judiciary,” they said.

Their concerns were expressed in a joint press statement released today by Sabah Law Society president Brenndon Keith Soh and the Advocates Association of Sarawak president Ranbir Singh Sangha. Read more →

Minister hints at new law against stalkers

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: The Malay Mail Online 

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 — A new law criminalising stalking may be introduced in the future, but the Penal Code will need to be amended beforehand, Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said today.

The women, family and community development minister pointed out that stalking is currently not a crime in Malaysia, but added that amendments to the Domestic Violence Act would criminalise elements of stalking.

“In short, the act of stalking itself is not domestic violence, but if it reaches the level of threatening the safety of victims or communicating in a way that insults the modesty of the victim, it is domestic violence.

“However, the government will always follow developments related to stalking and will consider to make it a crime in the nearest future,” she said in her wind-up speech this evening on a Bill to amend the Domestic Violence Act. Read more →

After cohabiting query, minister confirms Domestic Violence Act only protects married couples

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: The Malay Mail Online 

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 — The Domestic Violence Act will only protect victims who are legally wedded and not cohabiting couples who suffer abuse at their lover’s’ hands, Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim confirmed today.

The women, family and community development minister said those unmarried victims of home violence could instead seek recourse under the Penal Code.

“The protection under this Act only applies to couples of de facto husband and wife, which is those who have gone through the marriage ceremony; this Act does not apply to couples that don’t have marriage ties even though they have intimate relations.

“Although these couples are not protected under this Act, reports on the perpetrator’s violence can be lodged by the victim and the perpetrator can be punished under the Penal Code such as Section 323 and Section 324 and so on,” she said in the Dewan Rakyat. Read more →