Lawyers: Legal rights as important as safety

PETALING JAYA: The right to legal representation while in police custody is as important as ensuring that the individuals and lawyers have a safe environment in which to meet. Malaysian Bar secretary Tony Woon said the initiative to have lawyers meet clients, who are in police custody, on the ground floor of police stations could…

Fury within Malaysia over refugee deal

A coalition of high-profile Malaysian lawyers and human rights groups have called on Australia to scrap its refugee exchange deal with Malaysia immediately. The groups, which include the Malaysian Bar Council and human rights organisation Suaram, accused Australia of trying to “outsource” its international obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention. They were due to meet…

Hard life for refugees in Malaysia

    Tan Tian Maw sits in an office on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, hands trembling in her lap, and describes how she was raped by two Malaysian policemen. Her voice is soft and barely audible above the dragon boat drummer practising outside. “She hasn’t had any trauma counselling,” her lawyer, Latheefa Koya, explains.…

Cops were merely ensuring lawyer’s safety, says police chief

GOMBAK: A district police chief has come to the defence of his men, saying that a lawyer who claimed intimidation had misunderstood his officers’ intention. Gombak OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rahim Abdullah said the officers were merely trying to ensure the safety of Fadiah Nadwa Fikri and her client who was detained at the Gombak…

Family wants independent inquiry into teen’s fatal shooting

A tearful Salmah speaks to reporters outside the Damansara police station, May 15, 2011. — Pictures by Choo Choy May PETALING JAYA, May 15 — The family of Johari Abu Bakar have demanded an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the  17-year-old’s shooting, accusing the police today of giving inconsistent accounts of the incident. The…

Bar wants IGP to act against intimidation by police officer

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar has called on the Inspector-General of Police to stop the harassment of lawyers who wanted to meet their clients. Its president Lim Chee Wee cited a lawyer’s claim about an officer making references to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to threaten her. He said Fadiah Nadwa Fikri claimed that when…

Canberra faces more flak over ‘Malaysian solution’

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — More than Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his Australian counterpart Julia Gillard has been roasted by her countrymen and media over the recent deal to swap illegal immigrants in both countries whom nobody seems to want. Australian politicians have savaged their political foe since the agreement went public last…

Bkt Jalil residents’ injunction against DBKL ruled invalid

Residents of the contested former Bukit Jalil Estate were deeply disappointed today when the Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed today their injunction against Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL). The injunction aimed at preventing DBKL from demolishing their homes before a full-hearing on the status of the residents is heard.Judge Zabariah Mohd Yusof ruled that there…

High Court breaks hearts of estate workers

The High Court delivered a blow to former Bukit Jalil estate workers, dismissing their injunction application to stop DBKL from demolishing the former estate houses. FULL REPORT KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today dismissed an application by the former Bukit Jalil estate residents for an injunction against the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), which had…

Malaysia-Australia refugee deal sparks local concerns

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 — Malaysia’s refugee deal with Australia has drawn harsh criticism from local leaders and pressure groups here, who claimed today the agreement is in violation of asylum seekers’ right not to be forcibly deported. Human rights group Lawyers for Liberty also voiced fears that Australia’s bid to “outsource” its international obligation…

Negara polis dan kebangkitan rakyat

Fadiah Nadwa Fikri http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/04/29/negara-polis-dan-kebangkitan-rakyat/ April 29, 2011 Rakyat perlu bangkit untuk mengakhiri budaya keganasan polis, kata peguam Fadiah Nadwa Fikri dari NGO Lawyers for Liberty. COMMENT Fadiah Nadwa Fikri “Dalam masa sehari semalam, Malaysia telah bertukar kepada sebuah negara polis”, itulah kata-kata yang diungkapkan Tunku Abdul Rahman berikutan Operasi Lalang yang berlaku pada tahun 1987…