Press Statement Police must be fully transparent and accountable for every arrest and detention 24 July 2017 Last week, Lawyers for Liberty received a flurry of telephone calls seeking assistance for family members who went ‘missing’ and incommunicado after they were allegedly arrested by the police from the Klang district, many of whom were in…
Press Statement Caning has no place in this day and age 13 July 2017 Lawyers for Liberty view with extreme concern the amendments to the Syariah Criminal Procedure Enactment 2002 that were passed by the Kelantan state assembly yesterday, thus allowing for caning to be carried out in public for certain syariah offences – zina,…
Press Statement Unconstitutional appointments of the Chief Justice and President of the Court of Appeal undermine the independence of the judiciary 10 July 2017 Lawyers for Liberty view with extreme concern the appointment of Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Md Raus Sharif and Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin through the unusual process of “additional judges”…
Press Statement Immediately commence an inquest into the death in custody of Vickraman Devid 18 June 2017 On 16 June 2017, family members of Vickraman Devid were informed by the Shah Alam police that Vickraman had died while under police custody at the Shah Alam Court Complex the day before (15 June) when he was…
Press Statement Malaysia must not deport Turkish nationals to their home country where they face persecution 12 May 2017 Lawyers for Liberty are extremely concerned with the safety and welfare of three Turkish nationals Turgay Karaman, Ihsan Aslan, and Ismet Özçelik whom Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said would be deported back to their…
Press Statement Serious concern regarding the “Mega Mydaftar” campaign 8 May 2017 Lawyers for Liberty refer to MIC president Dr. S Subramaniam’s recent announcement that the government plan to embark on the “Mega Mydaftar” campaign to help members of the Indian community who do not possess identification documents. We view with serious concern the campaign…
Press Statement Reject extension of SOSMA detention powers 30 March 2017 Lawyers for Liberty is appalled by the Home Minister’s proposal for the police power of 28 days detention under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA) to be extended by another five years. Under SOSMA, the police holds special powers among others, to arrest…
Press Statement Stateless children with genuine and effective link to Malaysia should be recognised as citizens 17 March 2017 Lawyers for Liberty urgently calls on the government to relook at its citizenship policies that have rendered thousands of rightful Malaysians as stateless. The two decisions at the Court of Appeal on 16 March 2017 have…
Press Statement Breach of the Lockup Rules, poor medical attention and the death of Thanaseelan 27 February 2017 Today, a post-mortem was conducted on the body of Thanaseelan a/l Muniandy, 43, at the Sungai Buloh Hospital. He was arrested and detained on 22 February and died in the custody of the Bukit Sentosa Police Station,…
Press Statement Release and cease the harassment against Orang Asli protestors and journalists 24 January 2017 Lawyers for Liberty is shocked and appalled at the Kelantan Forestry Department’s arrest of 16 Orang Asli protestors over their anti-logging barricades in Pos Bihai, Gua Musang and 2 journalists/documentary makers from Channel News Asia who covered the event.…
Press Statement In response to Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan’s comments on investigations against NGOs 8 December 2016 I refer to Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan’s comments that were published in Malaysiakini report “Why fear if nothing to hide, Nur Jazlan asks NGOs” on 7 December 2016. I am surprised that his initial response to…
Press Statement Malaysia should recognise Rohingya as refugees 2 December 2016 While Lawyers for Liberty welcomes the Malaysian government’s stronger stance against Myanmar regarding the ongoing persecution of Rohingya in the northern Rakhine state, it should not act as though this is a new issue as they have been persecuted for decades. It was only…
Press Statement Protect the Orang Asli and their rights, not oppress them further 30 November 2016 Lawyers for Liberty is shocked and appalled by the Kelantan State Forestry Department’s and the police’s action in arresting 41 Temiar Orang Asli protestors and breaking up their anti-logging barricades and other structures yesterday in Pos Petei near Gua Musang. To…
Press Statement Rafizi Ramli’s 18 months’ imprisonment sentence harsh and excessive 14 November 2016 Lawyers for Liberty is appalled at the18 months’ imprisonment sentence imposed on MP Rafizi Ramli by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today for breaching the Official Secrets Act 1972 when he revealed excerpts from the Auditor General’s Report on the misuse…
Press Statement Restricting Siti Kasim’s access to Orang Asli arbitrary and bad faith 14 October 2016 Lawyers for Liberty is extremely concerned with the Kelantan State Forestry Department’s action in blocking lawyer Siti Kasim from entering into the Balah forest reserve on 12 and 13 October in order to meet her Temiar Orang Asli clients.…