Lawyers For Liberty condemns the tabling of the Freedom of Assembly Bill in Dewan Rakyat today as the Bill clearly appears to be an affront to the constitutional guarantee of the right to peaceful assembly which is enshrined in Article 10(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution. The Prime Minister has once again reneged on his public…
On this year’s Malaysia Day, Prime Minister Najib Razak surprised the nation by announcing that the draconian Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) will be abolished in the hope of building a nation that “practices functional and inclusive democracy where peace and public order are safeguarded in line with the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule…
Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) refers to the statement made by Perkasa representative Irwan Fahmi Ideris against the recently banned “Seksualiti Merdeka” annual festival and Bersih chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan’s scheduled involvement in officiating it. We are outraged at this display of prejudice and intolerance. Perkasa’s attack is against the freedom of speech and expression which is accorded to every…
The Court of Appeal today ruled that section 15(5)(a) of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) is in breach of Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees freedom of speech and expression. Section 15(5)(a) of UUCA prohibits students from expressing their support, sympathy or opposition to any political party and in breach…
Lawyers for Liberty, as an organization that stands for human rights is appalled by recent statements made by former PM Mahathir and former IGP Rahim Noor. It seems that these well-known figures are getting away with making absurd and irresponsible statements such as likening the human rights struggle to communism. Indeed it comes as no…
Lawyers For Liberty strongly condemns the suspension of Prof Aziz Bari’s duty as professor of constitutional law at the International Islamic University of Malaysia regarding his comments on the scope and limitations of constitutional powers of the King. This is clearly a denial of his basic right to freedom of speech guaranteed under Article 10…
Lawyers For Liberty calls on the Government of Malaysia to immediately abolish the death penalty which resonates the global call to end the death penalty as a form of punishment. The Government of Malaysia is urged to immediately abolish the death penalty, in line with its re-election as a member of the UN Human Rights…
The Kuala Lumpur High Court, today dismissed the Police and Government’s application to strike out Bersih 2007 police brutality suit brought by Aleyasak Bin Hamid @ Hassan. On 12 August 2010 Aleyasak sued the Police and the Government for unlawful arrest, unlawful detention and assault by the FRU personnel during the Bersih 2007 peaceful…
“Court’s decision underscores the most significant aspects of civil society’s campaign against the refugee-swap deal”
On 15 August 2011, parents of Blogger Mohd Nur Hanief Abdul Jalil, 27 were called in for questioning by the Malaysian Communication and Media Commission (MCMC) over a blog entry posted by Hanief on 1 March 2011. Hanief was arrested and questioned by the police under the Sedition Act 1948 on 18 March 2011. He…
Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) is pleased to learn of the extension of the Australian High Court’s temporary injunction of the deportation of 16 asylum seekers under the controversial asylum swap deal between the Australian and Malaysian governments. Although it comes as a temporary reprieve in preventing the deportation of the asylum-seekers which comprises accompanied and…
LFL Rantings Fayyadh Afiq, Anwar’s bodyguard is a hero. He shielded Anwar from the direct barrage of tear gas canisters shot into the crowd trapped at the Sentral station underpass. He suffered a broken cheek bone and underwent a 5-hour operation. MP Khalid Samad who was also at the underpass, was similarly hit by a…
Bersih 2.0 is disappointed in the manner in which the Prime Minister and his cabinet has reneged on their offer to provide a stadium for us to hold our peaceful gathering. As members of civil society that are committed to principles of integrity, we fully intend to abide by the advice of Tuanku DYMM SPB…
PRESS STATEMENT There is no other way to react to the ridiculous actions of the AG’s Chambers, Penang deputy police chief Abdul Rahim Jaafar, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Sessions Court judge Amernudin Ahmad – for playing their part in the arrest, investigation and seven days detention of 30 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activists including…
Debate continues on the Australia Malaysia asylum swap Updated June 17, 2011 12:52:52 Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is determined to push on with her plan to send 800 unprocessed asylum seekers to Malaysia, despite both houses of Australia’s Parliament condemning the policy. The details are still being hammered out, with reports of sticking points…