Anwar Ibrahim have filed a defamation suit against his former aide at Kuala Lumpur High Court in Jalan Duta this morning. He was represented by his lawyer Ranjit Singh.
June 29, 2008, SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA
The police report lodged against me earlier today is a complete fabrication. I believe we are witnessing a repeat of the methods used against me in 1998 when false allegations were made under duress. This is clearly a desperate attempt by the Barisan Nasional regime to arrest the movement of the Malaysian people towards freedom, democracy and justice.
The report has been organized by interested parties to attack me in retaliation for evidence I have recently obtained implicating [he named two head of government bodies here] in misconduct including fabrication of evidence in the cases launched against me in 1998-1999. This vile attack will not prevent me from releasing this dossier to the public.
I urge the Malaysian people to stand against the repressive forces that will be unleashed by the government in the coming days and weeks. We expect the media, the judiciary and the police force to all come under the direct and unchecked control of the executive.
My fellow Malaysians – we took a bold step forward on March 8th towards a new dawn for freedom and justice for all of our citizens. This people’s movement for change must go on with all of our strength and conviction.
ANWAR IBRAHIM
Statement: My safety in danger, says Anwar
June 30, 2008
JUNE 29, 2008, KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
I am issuing this statement from within the embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Kuala Lumpur. I was transported to the embassy earlier this morning fearing that my personal safety was in danger. I thank all those who offered to assist me in this time of need and am grateful to the Turkish Ambassador for extending an invitation to seek refuge within the Embassy.
Since the March 8th elections, numerous credible sources from within the government and military intelligence have advised me that certain agents from within Barisan Nasional leadership have initiated plots to cause harm to me or my family or my supporters. I have been told that my assassination has not been ruled out as means to subvert the people’s will and bring an end to the transformational changes taking place in Malaysia.
Notwithstanding the threats which are intended to silence my voice, I intend make public new evidence implicating that [he named two head of goverment bodies here] engaged in criminal acts of fabricating evidence in cases launched against me in 1998.
The allegations that have been made against me on Saturday are nothing more than a replay of the events which transpired in 1998 when I was sacked from the office of the Deputy Prime Minister, jailed and beaten, and then charged and convicted by a kangaroo court for crimes which I never committed. This charade was orchestrated by a corrupt Barisan Nasional leadership which made use of the entire apparatus of the state power including its control of the judiciary, the police force, and its grip on the mainstream media. These actions are being repeated today to undermine the forces of reform and renewal which were unleashed in the March 2008 elections.
I would like to assure my family, friends and supporters in Malaysia that I am safe and remain committed as ever before to continuing the struggle for a free and just Malaysia.
ANWAR IBRAHIM
Webwatch: Malaysia PM denies his deputy’s wife was involved in sensational killing of Mongolian woman
June 25, 2008
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah had come out to make a statement on the killing of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaaribuu. The report can be read here.
Report: Harakah’s frequency restored to twice a week
June 24, 2008
Harakah’s frequency restored to twice a week
KUALA LUMPUR, June 24: The Home Ministry has approved Harakah’s application for the party organ to be restored to its former frequency of twice a week.
PAS secretary general Datuk Kamarudin Jaafar said a letter was sent June 23 informing the decision. “And I’ve already written a thank you note to (Home Minister) Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar,” he said.
Met at the parliament lobby here today, Kamaruddin hopes the move would be a sign of loosening the tight control on media.
”We hope this is a start to a situation where the media has its freedom, not only amongst party organs but also other media like radio,television and others,” he said adding that the new development could be enforced immediately.
Asked to comment, Parti Keadilan Rakyat information chief Tian Chua hopes the attitude of “openness” shown by the ministry would continue.
Asked whether Suara Keadilan would apply for the same frequency for its publication Tian Chua said the matter would be discussed with the editorial.
“We will consider it and we’ll definitely take this as one of our priority,” he said.
DAP Seputeh parliamentary member Theresa Kok said the move by the Ministry was encouraging and that the ruling coalition could have realised that they could not stop the spread of globalisation and information.
“If they did not loosen up restriction on the media especially the one registered with the Ministry then the public would trust rumours,” she said.
“They could go to blog where all sorts of news were being published,”she said.
She said the opposition party organs, unlike the blog would still have to abide by publication laws while this is not the case for blog.
“If there are lots of media outlet then the public would not listen to rumours,” she said.
Asked whether the Rocket would apply for a permit to publish twice a week, Kok said the party would make the same application.
At the same time she called on the Pakatan Rakyat coalition to cooperate in term of “media distribution”.
/end.
All eyes will be reverted to Parliamentary proceeding tomorrow. The buzz is whether Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi will survive any motion of no-confidence against him. Former parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang painted the scenario here.
Webwatch: Altantuya murder
June 21, 2008
An explosive allegation against the wife of a minister was made here, compounding further the volatile political climate in the country. I’m not aware of any mainstream media highlighting the allegation.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL MALAYSIA
World Refugee Day Action Sheet
In Malaysia
Refugees in Malaysia are termed as merely an illegal immigrant by the authorities and be subjected to arrest, detention and forced deportation. During periodic crackdowns on undocumented migrant workers, the Malaysian authorities have frequently rounded up both undocumented workers and legitimate refugees or asylum-seekers. The arrests and detention of refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia were reported to include pregnant women and even children.
The government also deploys the People’s Volunteer Corps, an organization of uniformed part-time volunteers with some policing powers, to assist the regular police and immigration officials in the planned mass arrest and detention operations.
Under the Immigration Act, those who breach immigration laws in Malaysia face fines of up to 10,000 Malaysia Ringgit (US$ 2,630) per offence, jail sentences of up to five years, or both, as well as whipping of up to six strokes with a rattan cane. Under the Immigration Act, the police and immigration authorities are provided with wide powers to arrest, detain and eventually deport undocumented migrants.
According to Amnesty International’s information, hundreds of Burmese asylum-seekers and refugees are currently held in immigration detention centres in Malaysia. At times, especially when mass arrests lead to severe overcrowding, conditions are reportedly so poor as to amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
There are even cases of Burmese refugees being forcefully deported and be subjected to further ill treatment and torture. The act of deportation is often considered as refoulement and a disregard to international human rights principles.
The principle of non-refoulement prohibits the return in any manner whatsoever of any person to a situation where s/he is at risk of torture or other serious human rights violations. As outlined in Article 33 of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and in numerous other international instruments, the principle of non-refoulement is widely regarded as a norm of customary international law and is binding on all states.
Refugees
The term “refugee” has acquired a particular meaning in international law. It refers to any person who is outside their country of origin and who has a “well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion”(12) and is therefore unable or unwilling to return to that country. The legal regime that applies to such people includes the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (The Refugee Convention) and its 1967 Protocol, in addition to a number of human rights treaties and regional refugee instruments.
Who is an asylum seeker?
An asylum-seeker is a person who is seeking protection as a refugee even though she may not have been formally recognised as one. It normally applies to a person who is still waiting for the government to decide whether she is a refugee. The lack of a formal recognition does not make her any less entitled to protection of international refugee law.
Why Protect
Amnesty International Malaysia on 8th of May called on the Malaysian government to review its policy on the non recognition of Burmese refugees in Malaysia following the recent cyclone disaster and worsening humanitarian and human rights crises in Burma. We urge Malaysia as an ASEAN member and particularly the United Nations Human Rights Council, to demonstrate strong commitment in upholding the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights and be responsive to crises happening in the region.
“The government in its response to provide assistance to Burma must not ignore its responsibility and commitment to the rights and humanitarian needs of thousands of refugees who fled human rights violations and persecution in Burma seeking protection right here in our country.”AI Malaysia have previously emphasise that refugee concerns are not merely a national concern but an international concern. While Malaysia is not a party to the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, it is nonetheless bound by the fundamental principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits any person being returned to a country where they face serious human rights violations.
Malaysia is also formally obliged to care for refugee children as it is signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the UN Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. According to Article 22 of the CRC, the Malaysian Government should proactively provide assistance and protection to children of asylum seekers and refugees.
The recent human rights and humanitarian crisis in Burma is a strong indicator to the Malaysian government to work with ASEAN countries and other international human rights and humanitarian agencies to not only resolve the political and human rights crisis in Burma, but also to protect and provide for the Burmese refugee in our country.
Amnesty International Malaysia call on the Malaysian government to provide temporary protection to all Burmese refugees in Malaysia and to immediately halt all arrest, detention, prosecution and deportation of Burmese refugees on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
What can you do?
Write to the authorities calling for a refugee protection scheme without further delay and emphasize on them to demonstrate the political will on the part of the Malaysian government to make a permanent solution to the plight of Burmese refugees in Malaysia in spirit of international solidarity and to employ the concept of burden sharing to meet the solution. Also stress the point of women and pregnant women being arrested and detained and state the concerns of health and education that need immediate solution from the government.
Send your appeals to the Prime Minister and CC a copy to the Foreign Minister
Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Prime Minister’s Office Malaysia ,
Perdana Putra Building ,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 Putrajaya, Selangor , Malaysia
Fax: +603 8888 3444
Email: ppm@pmo.gov.myDato’ Seri Utama Dr. Rais YatimMinister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia
Wisma Putra , No 1, Jalan Wisma Putra
Precint 2 ,62602 Putrajaya
Fax : 603-8889 1717 / 603-8889 2816
The concept of burden-sharing and international solidarity can be found in the preamble to UN 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. The concept provides a framework for states that might feel unduly burdens in granting of asylum and protection. The framework suggests an international co-operation and multi party arrangement both internationally and nationally with various stakeholders to attain a satisfactory and just solution to the plight of refugees and asylum seekers.
This multilateral approach is a matter of principle that refugee assistance should be a shared, international responsibility. The government should not use the argument of burden as an excuse to protect refugees.
June 20th is World Refugee Day
“Protect Burmese Refugees in Malaysia”
Malaysia is host to an estimated 50,000 asylum seekers and refugees with a majority of them from Burma. Among the ethnic Burmese refugees residing in Malayia were Rohingyas from the Northern Arakan State of Burma and other ethnic minorities from the country, such as Chins, Shans, Burmese Muslims, Mon, Kachin and Karen.
Sabah Progressive Party(SAPP) apparently has reached a consensus on the no confidence vote against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi. The following a statement taken from the party website:
Declaration of the People of Sabah for change in the country
KOTA KINABALU : SAPP President, Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee said at the press conference just after the Supreme Council Meeting that the Party (SAPP) is not leaving the Barisan Nasional (BN). However, the meeting reached a consensus on the ‘No Confidence Vote on the PM’.
The meeting of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) supreme council meeting declared:
• Whereas our mission is to establish a trustworthy government and a progressive, just and harmonious society,
• Whereas the people of Sabah expresses our solidarity and friendship with the other Malaysians,
It is now hereby declared:
1. That the government shall be of the people and based on Good Governance and Civil Society and non-racial politics based on a progressive, just and harmonious society,
2. That Sabah shall have political autonomy whereby the government shall be formed and run by the people of Sabah,
3. That Sabah and other oil producing States shall be entitled to the petroleum royalty of 20%
4. That the Federal Territory of Labuan shall be returned to Sabah and governed as a special region,
5. That unfair and imprudent federal laws which have been extended to Sabah and federal departments and which are to the detriment of the State shall be reviewed,
6. That Sabah shall be given fair and just participation in the federal administration, the civil service and private sector, and that the federal departments in Sabah shall, as far as possible, be headed by local Malaysians,
7. That the federal government and the state governments shall put in sufficient resources, political will and leadership in solving the illegal immigrant problems in a firm but humane manner, with emphasis on regional concept and smart partnership,
8. That the federal and state governments shall together work on redressing the in-built structural imbalances in the economic and social structure of the country affecting Sabah and other states.
Report: Oil hike mega protest rescheduled to July 6
June 20, 2008
| Saadon Aksah Fri | Jun 20, 08 | 10:06:38 am MYT
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| KUALA LUMPUR - The mega protest against a recent oil hike targetted to receive some one million attendees has been rescheduled to July 6, a day later than originally planned. <!–
–>The venue of the protest earlier planned to be held near the iconic Petronas Twin Tower has also been changed to a public field in Petaling Jaya near the Amcorp shopping centre. A coordinator for the protest – initiated by a coalition calling themselves Protes -, Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli said the changes were taken to accomodate the massive attendance and to enable better crowd control. In a press conference held at the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) headquarters here June 19, Mohd Hatta said the organiser would not have a problem getting a permission to hold the event as it was located in a Pakatan Rakyat held state. He said the police would be informed formally but a police permit would not be sought for the event. He however welcomed any permits issued and noted a precedence on the police giving out permit for peaceful protest. He said the event would be “carnival” like and that it would also cater for the families with performances to be held to keep those present entertained, apart from Pakatan leaders giving out speeches at the event. Asked whether the changes were done for Protes to avoid confrontation with the authorities, Mohd Hatta said the movement has never resorted to confrontation. The event is scheduled to commence from 10am. Pakatan Rakyat coalition comprising of PAS, the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and People Justice Party (KeADILan) currently formed the government at fives states and controlled more than one-third of the parliamentary seats.-ES_ |
