Tahfiz fire suspects can’t be tried as adults: Bar Council

PETALING JAYA: The suspects in the tahfiz fire case cannot be tried as adults, said Bar Council president George Varughese. He told theSun that under the Child Act, anyone below 18, will be regarded as a child. “The Child Act bars the sentence of death, if one has committed an offence whereby the death penalty can be…

Ambiga loses leave to appeal bid over travel ban to Sabah

PUTRAJAYA: Former Malaysian Bar president Datuk S. Ambiga loses her bid to obtain the green light from the Federal Court to appeal over the Sabah State Immigration Department’s decision to ban her from entering Sabah in November 2014. Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop, chairing the Federal Court three-man bench, unanimously dismissed Ambiga’s…

Malaysia scraps beer festival following Islamists’ objections

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian authorities scrapped an annual beer festival on Monday (Sep 18) after an Islamist party objected to the event that had been planned for the first weekend of October in the country’s capital. Though there are plenty of beer drinkers among the sizable Chinese and Indian minorities, protests against events deemed to be…

Cases involving stateless children go to federal court

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court will hear appeals brought by parents in three separate cases if stateless children could be accorded citizenship. This follows a decision by the Federal Court’s three-man bench today, to allow leave sought by the parents of children who were born in Malaysia but could not be granted citizenship to proceed with their…

Immigration: Rohingya refugees allowed entry into Malaysia

PUTRAJAYA: Rohingya fleeing persecution from Rakhine state in Myanmar will be permitted entry into Malaysia but the Immigration Department would still need to distinguish between genuine refugees and economic migrants. “The influx will happen, and Malaysia is one of the refugees’ destinations. I want to emphasise that we will follow whatever policy decisions made by…

Federal Court grants leave to appeal in gender discrimination case

PETALING JAYA: What is your constitutional right to gender equality worth? Or should damages be even awarded for a breach of a constitutional right for the repudiation of a contract? These crucial questions, arising from a landmark case on gender discrimination, will be determined by the Federal Court soon. On Thursday, the highest court in…

LFL: Unwarranted questioning of Selangor Menteri Besar’s Office Communications Director

Press Statement  Unwarranted questioning of Selangor Menteri Besar’s Office Communications Director  5 September 2017 Lawyers for Liberty view with serious concern the MACC’s unwarranted questioning of Selangor Menteri Besar’s Office Communications Director Yin Shao Loong on 29 August 2017 over his press statement regarding MACC’s raid on Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) and University Selangor (Unisel) offices.…

LFL: MACC must stop issuing ultimatums to critics

Press Statement MACC must stop issuing ultimatums to critics 30 August 2017 Lawyers for Liberty view with grave concern the ultimatum issued by the MACC against Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and further, MACC Chief Commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad cautioning Ramkarpal Singh over their remarks regarding the legality of Penang executive councillor Phee Boon Poh’s…

Challenge us in court, says MACC chief

KUALA LUMPUR: Challenge us in court if procedures on handcuffs and lock-up uniforms are unlawful, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad said. Defending the move of MACC enforcement officers on their “discretion”, Dzulkifli said all procedures are within the law. “If it is unconstitutional then go to court and challenge us. “We…

Police question women activists over peaceful march last year

KUALA LUMPUR: Two women activists were questioned at the Dang Wangi police headquarters as part of an investigation into a peaceful assembly which took place in November last year. The activists, Ivy Josiah and All Women’s Action Society (Awam) former president Ho Yock Lin were questioned for three hours since 2pm. Lawyers Honey Tan Lay Ean…

Apex court dismisses Govt’s appeal against The Edge

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court on Wednesday ruled that the Edge Communications Sdn Bhd  could claim for damages from the Home Minister for loss incurred over the three-months suspension of two of its publications in 2015. In making the ruling, the court dismissed an appeal by the Home Minister and the Home Ministry secretary-general to set…

LFL: Books should be read, not banned

Press Statement Books should be read, not banned 3 August 2017 Lawyers for Liberty view with grave concern the government’s continued trigger happy approach in using the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 to arbitrarily ban books they find prejudicial to public order, morality or security, including books on moderate and progressive interpretations of Islam.…