Khairuddin and Matthias vow to fight on

Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan and his lawyer Matthias Chang have vowed to fight on for the truth after they were charged for attempting to sabotage banking and financial services in the country. Clad in orange lockup uniforms, both of them were escorted into the Magistrates Court while waving and exchanging greetings as they were…

Activist remanded four days for sedition over tweet

Activist Khalid Mohd Ismath has been rearrested under the Sedition Act 1948 and remanded today for four days over an alleged tweet criticising the detention of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) critic Datuk Khairuddin Abu Hassan and lawyer Matthias Chang. News portal Malaysiakini reported that Khalid was first detained Wednesday in Johor Baru under the Communications…

Court rules Sedition Act legal, Azmi Sharom to stand trial

 Law professor Dr Azmi Sharom will have to stand trial for sedition after the Federal Court today dismissed his move to challenge the constitutionality of the Sedition Act 1948. The apex court today declared the law enacted under British rule was constitutional. Today’s ruling will impact some 30 politicians, government critics and activists‎ who have…

LFL: Sedition Act remains antiquated, illiberal and undemocratic despite Federal Court verdict

Press Statement 6 October 2015 Sedition Act remains antiquated, illiberal and undemocratic despite Federal Court verdict   Lawyers for Liberty is extremely disappointed with the Federal Court’s Azmi Sharom verdict today that upheld the constitutionality of the Sedition Act despite its manifest antiquated, illiberal and undemocratic nature. Most modern states in the world have either repealed…

Court backtracks, now says punishing rally organisers legal

The Court of Appeal today ruled that a provision in the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA) that punishes organisers for holding assemblies is constitutional. A three-man bench chaired by Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif said Section 9(5) of the PAA, which provides for a fine of up to RM10,000, did not run foul of Article…

LFL: Stop harassment of lawyer Matthias Chang

Press Statement  29 September 2015 Stop harassment of lawyer Matthias Chang   Lawyers for Liberty condemns the police for questioning lawyer Matthias Chang over his client Khairuddin Abu Hassan who was recently detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA) 2012. Khairuddin was held for allegedly committing “sabotage” when he lodged multiple police reports overseas on the massive 1Malaysia…

LFL: Keep activists safe, apprehend assailants immediately

Press Statement 15 September 2015 Keep activists safe, apprehend assailants immediately   Lawyers for Liberty is deeply concerned with the recent attacks against well-known LGBT activist Nisha Ayub and student leader Syahir Rahimi Sukri, president of Gabungan Mahasiswa Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Nisha Ayub was attacked with an iron rod last Thursday by two men and…

LFL: Protes 16 September berkemungkinan tidak aman

Kenyataan Akhbar 14 September 2015 Protes 16 September berkemungkinan tidak aman   Lawyers for Liberty melihat dengan kebimbangan terhadap protes “anti-Bersih” pada 16 September yang digelar “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” atau “Kebangkitan Maruah Melayu” yang tersebar dengan meluas dan dikongsi di media sosial. Ini juga termasuk poster-poster dengan slogan seperti “Tanah Tumpahnya Darah Ku” yang turut…

LFL: 16 September protest likely to be anything but peaceful

Press Statement 14 September 2015 16 September protest likely to be anything but peaceful Lawyers for Liberty views with extreme concern the upcoming “anti-Bersih” protest on 16 September dubbed “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” or “Kebangkitan Maruah Melayu” that has been widely publicised and shared on social media including posters with slogans like “Tanah Tumpahnya Darah Ku” depicting martial art poses…

Bar to go after those meddling in 1MDB probe

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar will initiate legal action against public officers who interfered in investigations into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). Its president Steven Thiru said the Bar was mandated under the Legal Profession Act to uphold the law. He said one possible action was the tort of abuse of power or misfeasance in public…