We, the undersigned NGOs, are gravely concerned with the comments made by the Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ismail Sabri Yaakob regarding human rights organisation SUARAM. The Minister is reported to have said that the financial accounts of Suara Inisiatif Sdn. Bhd, which is linked to SUARAM and currently undergoing investigation, are “highly suspicious”.

While we fully acknowledge that any allegations of irregularities in the financial accounts of an organisation can and must be investigated, we wish to remind the authorities to be impartial and fair in carrying out the investigation, as their first duty is to the Malaysian public, not to the government of the day.

Moreover, as expressed in the recent press statements issued by SUARAM, the NGO has given its full cooperation to the various authorities involved. In fact, it is the authorities themselves such as PERKESO who do not seem to be on top of the investigation process, thus raising further suspicions of political motivation. We also wish to question why the Companies Commission Malaysia (CCM) has only launched its investigation now, after the president of Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) questioned SUARAM’s legitimacy as an NGO.

Once again, this raises doubts due to the timing as the on-going Scorpene submarine investigations by SUARAM have revealed tremendous discrepancies in the financial accounts of the government-linked companies involved.

We demand an immediate end to the harassment against human rights defender, SUARAM. We also strongly support SUARAM’s challenge to the government and its agencies to speedily inspect and investigate Perimekar Sdn. Bhd. and Terasasi Sdn. Bhd. and reveal its findings to the public in the same manner which they have handled the investigations against SUARAM.

We continue to stand in support of all those who work in defense of human rights and democracy in Malaysia and reiterate our full support for SUARAM.

 

Signed and supported by:

NGOs

1.           Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)

2.           Tenaganita

3.           Lawyers for Liberty (LFL)

4.           Persatuan Sahabat Wanita

5.           Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)

6.           Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)

7.           Pusat KOMAS

8.           Perak Women for Women (PWW)

9.           Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)

10.       Community Action Network (CAN)

11.       Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)

12.       Aliran

13.       LLG Cultural Development Centre

14.       Coalition of Kelantan NGOs

15.       Civil Right Committee KLSCAH

16.       Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)

17.       Serdang Bharu School Alumni Youth Section

18.       Sisters in Islam (SIS)

19.       Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)

20.       Bersihkan Malaysia Perth

21.       People’s Green Coalition

22.       Borneo Resources Institute, Malaysia

23.       OHMSI (Oriental Hearts and Mind Study Institute)

24.       Sabah Women’s Action Resource Group

25.       All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)

26.       Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)

27.       Angkatan Warga Aman Malaysia(WargaAMAN)

28.       Malaysian Indians Progressive Association (MIPAS)

29.       Malaysian Youth Care Association (PRIHATIN)

30.       People’s Welfare and Rights Coalition (POWER)

31.       Malaysian Indians Transformation Action Team (MITRA)

32.       Angkatan Nasional India Malaysia (AGNI)

33.       Kill the Bill

34.       Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section

35.       Persatuan Komuniti Prihatin Selangor & KL

36.       Serdang Bharu School Alumni Youth Section

37.       LLG (Lim Lian Geok) Cultural Developement Centre Berhad Melaka

38.       Himpunan Hijau

39.       Group of Concerned Citizens

40.       Malaysian Indian Development Association

41.       Malaysian Association of Indian University Graduates

42.       Malaysian Indian Historical Association

43.       Malaysian Indian Youth Development Foundation

44.       World Tamil Federation – Malaysian Chapter

45.       Indian Malaysian Active Generation (IMAGE)

46.       Persahabatan Semparuthi

47.       Child Development Initiative

48.       Academy of Tamil Studies

49.       Council of Temples Malaysia

50.       Japan Graduates’ Association of Malaysia

51.       Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)

52.       Community Development Centre (CDC)

53.       Malaysia Youth & Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)

54.       Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM)

55.       Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM)

56.       Northern Green Youth

57.       Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM)

58.       Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall (NSCAH)

59.       Centre for Policy Initiative (CPI)

60.       Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF)

61.       United Chinese School Alumni Association of Malaysia (UCSAAM)

62.       Save Our Sungai Selangor (SOS Selangor)

63.       Global Bersih

64.       SABM Australia (SABMoz)

65.       Persekutuan Alumni Han Chiang Pulau Pinang

66.       Malaysians for Beng Hock

67.       528 Media Action Group

68.       Friends in Conversation (FIC)

69.       Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)

70.       The Micah Mandate

71.       Save Vui Kong Campaign

72.       MyOverseasVote (MOV)

73.       Friends of Kota Damansara

74.       Writers’ Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)

75.       Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM)

76.       Sinui Pal Nanuk Sngik, Perak (SPNS)

77.       National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)

78.       The Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (PROHAM)

79.       Persatuan Seni Rumah Air Panas KL

80.       Jaringan Orang Asal Se-Malaysia (JOAS)

81.       Pahang Raub Ban Cyanide in Gold Mining Action Committee (BCAC)

82.       Persatuan Alumni PBTUSM KL & Selangor

83.       Jingga 13

84.       Sarawak Keruan Organisation

85.       Kampung Bukit Peninjau

86.       PDBT

87.       PPU

88.       Indigenous People Development Centre (IPDC)

89.       Kampung Bukit Limau-Sungai Nat

90.       Pekan Kenowit

91.       SILOP

92.       PANGAU

93.       WADESA (Persatuan Wanita Desa Sarawak)

94.       IPIMAS

95.       Persatuan Penduduk Balingan Satu (PPBS)

96.       ADC MERADONG-JULAU

97.       Jaringan Orang Asal Baram

98.       TAHABAS

99.       Rumah Rajang dan Tatu (RATA)

100.   JKKK Pusat  Krokong.

101.   Tring-Kameh

102.   Jawatankuasa Tindakan Rakyat Baram (JTRB)

103.   Jawatankuasa Bertindak Rumah Ampau

104.   Jawatankuasa Bertindak Hak Kg. Spaoh-Benat

105.   Jawatankuasa Bertindak Melindungi Hak Kawasan Penduduk Tutoh-Apoh

106.   MEBUSA

107.   Sarawak Indigenous Youths Network  (SYIN)

108.   JKKK Pusat Jagoi

109.   Pertubuhan Rakyat PUSAKAG

110.   Pertubuhan Rakyat TONIBUNG

111.   Pertubuhan Rakyat MONUNGKUS

112.   Pertubuhan Rakyat GOMPITO

113.   Pertubuhan Rakyat  JGPT TONGOD

114.   Pertubuhan Rakyat TINUNGKUSAN

115.   Pertubuhan Rakyat G5 SIMBUAN

116.   Pertubuhan Rakyat TINIPOT

117.   Pertubuhan Rakyat PIROTON DAGALING

118.   Pertubuhan Rakyat NOKIIKITO

119.   Pertubuhan Rakyat MUKAKAS

120.   Pertubuhan Rakyat MAMAKAT

121.   Pertubuhan Rakyat BALAT-KUAMUT

122.   Pertubuhan Rakyat G5 MANGKAWAGO

123.   Pertubuhan Rakyat AARP ULU SENAGANG-MONGOOL

124.   Pertubuhan Rakyat MONGOPUD

125.   Pertubuhan Rakyat ALAB LANAS

126.   Pertubuhan Rakyat G8 KOMOKITUKOD

127.   KELAB BELIA KAMPUNG GANA (KBKG)

128.   Pertubuhan Rakyat G14  TELUPID

129.   Pertubuhan Rakyat G5 ULU TOMANI

130.   Pertubuhan Rakyat KAWAKAHAN

131.   G4- KANIBUNGAN

132.   Pertubuhan Rakyat NAMBAYAN

133.   Pertubuhan Rakyat SINUNGKALANGAN

134.   Gabungan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI)

135.   Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia (IKRAM)

136.   Bruno Manser Foundation