Press Statement Fake news probe on Mahathir proves public concern over the dangers of the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 3 May 2018 I refer to the fake news probe on Opposition PM candidate Tun Mahathir over his complaint that his flight was sabotaged. The probe upon Mahathir is beyond the scope of the Anti-Fake News…
Press Statement Stop all prosecutions under the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 pending outcome of test case 30 April 2018 I refer to news reports that a Danish man is to be charged today under the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 ( AFN 2018). The legal challenge to the constitutionality and validity of the AFN 2018 is…
Press Statement Tian Chua’s disqualification as Batu candidate is unlawful & outrageous 28 April 2018 I refer to this morning’s disqualification by the EC of Tian Chua, PKR’s candidate for Batu. The returning officer purported to disqualify Tian on grounds of a conviction under s 509 of Penal Code which carried an RM 2000 fine. The…
Stealing GE14 A couple of weeks away from GE14, Malaysians are finally coming to terms with the lengths the Barisan Nasional (BN) government will go to ensure that they come out on top once again. Sensing a renewed Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition challenge under the leadership of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister Najib Razak and…
Press Statement MCMC sending unsolicited message to mobile phone users is an abuse of their power as regulator 26 April 2018 Lawyers for Liberty view with concern the recent SMS blast by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) exhorting Malaysians to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA 1998). As…
A boatful of hope for Rohingya refugees in Malaysia Often called the most friendless people in the world, the recent interception of 56 Rohingya refugees on a boat off the island of Langkawi is the latest entry in their never-ending saga. Forced out of their homes in Rakhine State, Myanmar under a slow genocide, their…
In his official letter to the Malaysian government dated 3 April 2018, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression David Kaye expresses his concerns on the Anti-Fake News Bill 2018, addressing the issues of vagueness, disproportionate penalties imposed upon offenders, extraterritorial application, and the drafting…
How to not draft a Fake News Law Jumping on the Donald Trump ‘fake news’ bandwagon, Law Minister Azalina Othman announced on 30 January 2018, the formation of a special committee to look into new legislation to curb fake news that could threaten political stability, public order and national security. Her announcement came on the…
Press Statement The Anti-Fake News law will be the death knell for freedom of speech in Malaysia 26 March 2018 Lawyers for Liberty are extremely concerned with the tabling in Parliament today of the Anti-Fake News Bill 2018. The Bill has far-reaching implications for democracy and human rights, and should it be passed, be the death knell…
On 7 June 2016, the National Security Council Act 2016 (NSC Act) was gazetted as law despite concerns raised by civil society, elected representatives, legal fraternity, military veterans, and the Conference of Rulers. Eight civil society organisations that came together as a coalition called #TakNakDiktator to oppose the NSC law, convened the Conference on…
Press Statement The AG must appeal the lenient ‘binding over’ sentence against Datin Rozita Mohamad Ali for causing grievous hurt to her domestic worker 16 March 2018 Lawyers for Liberty are shocked and appalled by the extremely lenient sentence of ‘binding over’ for good behaviour that was handed down to Datin Rozita Mohamad Ali for…
The trouble with MCMC’s ‘fake news’ crusade and the biggest personal data breach in our history In late October 2017, news began to spread of what would eventually come to be known as the biggest personal data breach in Malaysia’s history – the customer data of more than 46 million consumers of mobile phone subscribers (Altel,…
Amri Che Mat, Shia Muslims and national security in Malaysia Some 14 months after Amri Che Mat’s mysterious disappearance, his case appears no closer to being resolved. An ongoing inquiry by SUHAKAM has prompted a verbal back and forth between Norhayati Ariffin, the victim’s wife, and Perlis mufti, Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, with the…
When citizenship is politicised – the plight of the stateless in Malaysia Of all the tragedies to befall the stateless community in Malaysia, perhaps the greatest one is that they are treated as little more than a political gimmick, a useful way to earn votes as election season swings around. In May 2017, with the…
Press Statement Government’s special committee to combat ‘fake news’ raises serious concerns 2 February 2018 Lawyers for Liberty view with serious concern the recent announcement by Minister Azalina Othman Said that Putrajaya has formed a special committee to formulate laws to tackle ‘fake news’. While we agree that fabricated news content is a concern, the…