Batu MP Tian Chua fined RM3,000 for insulting cop

PETALING JAYA: Batu MP Tian Chua risks being disqualified from contesting in the next elections following his conviction and sentence for insulting a police officer using foul words three years ago. The Sessions Court here fined Tian Chua, whose real name is Chua Tian Chang, RM3,000 in default three months’ jail yesterday, after finding him guilty…

Let all refugees in Malaysia work, say human rights activists

PETALING JAYA: All refugees regardless of their country of origin should be accorded the opportunity to work in Malaysia, say human rights activists. While welcoming the Government’s decision to provide training in semi-skilled areas for Rohingya in country who are UNHCR cardholders, activists say there should not be discrimination against other refugees. Tenaganita programme director…

Sabah’s Lasimbang acquitted of Bersih rally charge

KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah Bersih chairman Jannie Lasimbang hugged her lawyer Ram Singh and supporters after she was discharged and acquitted of the charges related to last year’s Bersih rally here. Lasimbang and her supporters cheered outside the Kota Kinabalu magistrate’s court after magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus made the ruling yesterday evening. The former…

Appeals Court rules Sedition Act clause unconstitutional

PUTRAJAYA: In a landmark decision, the Court of Appeal has ruled that Section 3(3) of the Sedition Act is unconstitutional. A three-man panel chaired by Justice Lim Yee Lan said that intention must be proved in every sedition case. Justice Varghese George Varughese read the judgement during proceedings Friday. He said Section 3(3) was in…

Bersih chief seeks IGP aid after IS death threat against children

PETALING JAYA: Fearing harm to her three sons, Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin beseeched the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) today to take swift action after receiving death threats purportedly from local Islamic State (IS) terrorists. The electoral reform group chief said she received a warning through a WhatsApp message from an unknown phone number last…

Court bins Anwar’s challenge against NSC Act

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here dismissed today Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s constitutional challenge against the controversial National Security Council (NSC) Act 2016 on a technical point, his lawyer confirmed. Latheefa Koya, one of the lawyers who represented the PKR de facto leader, said the judge agreed with the government lawyer’s preliminary objection that the…

Suhakam: Police should not be a face of intimidation

KUALA LUMPUR: In exercising their powers, police should be “the face of human rights, and not a face to intimidate”, the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) said. Its chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail (pic) said selected and intermittent training programmes on human rights are “just a scratch on the surface” to ensure that uniformed enforcement…

Judge: Edge can claim damages

KUALA LUMPUR: The Edge Commu­nications Sdn Bhd can claim for damages from the Home Minister for suspending two of its publications last year, Court of Appeal ruled. A three-man panel unanimously dismissed the appeal brought by the Home Minister and the Home Ministry secretary-general. Court of Appeal judge Justice Mohd Zawawi Salleh held that the…

Suhakam wants mechanism to review NSC Act

KUALA LUMPUR: It was Benjamin Franklin who said in 1755 that “those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”, recalled Suhakam Chairman Razali Ismail in the keynote speech at the “Civil Society Conference on National Security” in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. Franklin’s simple phrase reminds…

Cambodian maids claim fatal abuses at Juru depot

PHNOM PENH: Two Cambodian maids released from the Juru detention depot in Penang, Malaysia, have alleged torture of detainees by depot staff. One of them claimed she knew of at least three detainees who shared the same block with her dying of injuries from beatings. The Cambodia Daily reported that the Cambodian Embassy in Malaysia…