I’ve been a registered voter for four elections now and, being the hopeless optimist that I am, have always taken great pride in carrying out my duty and privilege as a citizen with every ballot I cast. Being a journalist for almost my entire work life may have dulled a little of the romanticism I…
Zaid: New sedition law leaves us like Russia under Stalin
FMT 10 April 2015 PETALING JAYA: The amendments to the Sedition Act 1948 will render Malaysians much like the Russians under Stalin, said Zaid Ibrahim in his latest blog posting today. Commenting on how the Act was going against the very principles of freedom of speech, the former law minister said the new sedition law…
Sedition (Amendment) Bill ― Internet users beware! ― Syahredzan Johan
KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 ― Much has been said about the Sedition (Amendment) Bill, tabled in Parliament this week. There are major concerns about many of the provisions of the Bill. But for internet users, the Bill, if passed, will severely restrict our freedoms online. The Bill will empower the Sessions Court to make what…
UN tells Putrajaya to withdraw amendments to Sedition Act
The United Nation’s Human Rights high commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein today urged Putrajaya to withdraw its proposed amendments to the Sedition Act 1948, warning that the new provisions would seriously undermine the freedom of expression and opinion in the country. He said the proposal also breached the Federal Constitution and the country’s international human…
After hudud, Sabah, Sarawak may seek referendum for independence, ex-IGP warns
KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 — The implementation of hudud may lead Sabah and Sarawak to conduct a referendum for independence as the states had never agreed to the Islamic penal code before forming Malaysia, a former national police chief said, citing the Scottish independence referendum last year as an example. Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP)…
MCA Ministers must prove that the hudud bill was discussed in Cabinet, or they must resign from the Cabinet for having lied to the people
On March 31, Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz was reported to say that the Cabinet did not discuss the hudud bill during its meeting last week. Then on April 2, International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapha Mohamad also openly confirmed that the Cabinet had not discussed Kelantan‘s hudud bill. He said the Cabinet…
Kelantan’s hudud breaks basis of secular Malaysia, Sarawak churches say
KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 — Kelantan’s hudud enactment violates the secular foundation upon which Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak had formed Malaysia, Sarawak churches said today. The Kuching Ministers’ Fellowship (KMF), a network of church pastors and leaders in Sarawak, joined the Sabah Council of Churches in criticising the passing of the Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code…
Najib a self-styled reformer whose talk rings hollow
KUALA LUMPUR: Najib Razak’s U-turns on promised reforms and his silence in the face of political tension has proven that he is not capable of change, said MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok in a statement today. Calling the prime minister a “self-styled reformer”, Teresa also said, “Time has certainly proven that he is not a…