LFL: Do Not Criminalize the Existence of the Destitute and Homeless

Lawyers for Liberty Press Statement 3 July 2014 Do Not Criminalize the Existence of the Destitute and Homeless Lawyers for Liberty is appalled with Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor’s ill-conceived and heavy-handed plan to crackdown and clear Kuala Lumpur of the destitute and homeless by criminalising begging and even those who sought to help…

LFL: Diplomatic Immunity is Not a Licence to Commit Crimes

Lawyers for Liberty Press Statement 1 July 2014 Diplomatic Immunity is Not a Licence to Commit Crimes Lawyers for Liberty is shocked and appalled that the Malaysian Government has asserted diplomatic immunity to protect Muhammad Rizalman from what is obviously a serious case of sexual assault and burglary, acts of which are unconnected with his diplomatic…

Tian Chua, 2 others fail in second bid to quash sedition charge

PKR vice-president Tian Chua and two opposition activists have again failed in their bid to drop the sedition charge against them.   Their application to dismiss the charge was rejected by High Court judge Kamardin after hearing submissions from deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Abazafree Mohd Abbas, and counsel N. Surendran, who represented Tian Chua, 51,…

SEDITION ACT – USE OR ABUSE?

De facto Minister of Law, Nancy Shukri defends the Sedition Act, and its use despite, an announcement by the Prime Minister in 2012 that a National Harmony Act would replace it. We ask why the new law is taking so long to enact and if the Sedition Act is being used against the ruling government’s…

LFL: AG appeals against non-decision of PJ Sessions Court in Nik Nazmi’s case

Lawyers for Liberty is shocked to learn that the AG’s Chambers have appealed against the Sessions Court’s “decision” on 5 May 2014 to give effect to the landmark Court of Appeal’s Nik Nazmi judgment in discharging and acquitting him from the charge under Section 9(1) and 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012. Nik Nazmi’s solicitors Daim & Gamany received the Notice of Appeal today.

Get rid of the Sedition Act now, say former A-G and lawyers

There are enough laws to prosecute those who make disparaging racial and religious remarks but selective investigation and prosecution is a cause for worry, a former attorney-general and lawyers said.   Insisting that the Sedition Act be removed from the statute book, they said the law on sedition was stacked against an accused and it…

Sessions Court postpones decision on activists

PETALING JAYA, May 16:   The Petaling Jaya Sessions Court today postponed its decision on the case of Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin or Chegubard, who was recharged under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012.   This, pending a mention on May 27 in the Federal Court,  as to whether Section…

Courts postpones PAA trial for Rafizi, three others

KUALA LUMPUR (May 15): The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today granted a temporary stay for the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012 trial of Pandan MP, Rafizi Ramli and three others.   The stay was granted pending the outcome of the Attorney General Chamber’s appeal on the Court of Appeal’s landmark decision which declared that organisers…

Basic rights undermined due to weak judiciary, says lawyer

The basic rights of Malaysians as guaranteed in the Federal Constitution have been undermined over the years due to a weak judiciary, a civil rights lawyer said yesterday.   N. Surendran, who is also PKR vice-president, said one such example was the freedom to assemble peacefully but this right was denied in the repealed Police…

LFL: Implementing hudud would be unconstitutional

Press Statement Implementing hudud would be unconstitutional Lawyers for Liberty views with extreme concern PAS’ attempt to table a private member’s bill in Parliament in order to implement the Sharia Criminal Code (II) Enactment 1993, or hudud, in Kelantan. This is an extremely irresponsible act of political grandstanding, calculated to burnish PAS’ Islamic credentials, to…