LFL: Karpal Singh’s sedition conviction reaffirms the return of authoritarianism and political persecution

Press Statement 21 February 2014 Karpal Singh’s sedition conviction reaffirms the return of authoritarianism and political persecution LFL is extremely concerned and shocked with the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s conviction of Karpal Singh for sedition where he now faces imprisonment up to 3 years and disqualification as member of Parliament. Making political or critical comments…

LFL: Uthayakumar’s sedition conviction reaffirms PM Najib Razak’s false reformist credentials

Press Statement 18 February 2014 LFL is extremely concerned but unsurprised with the High Court’s dismissal of Uthayakumar’s appeal against his sedition conviction and sentence of 30 months’ imprisonment. The Hindraf founder was convicted for writing a letter to former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2007 claiming ‘mini-genocide’ and ‘ethnic cleansing’ had been perpetrated…

LFL: Shafee’s appointment as DPP smacks of desperation to convict Anwar Ibrahim

Press Statement 20 December 2013 Lawyers for Liberty is extremely concerned (although not surprised) with the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of Anwar Ibrahim’s application to disqualify private lawyer Muhammad Shafee from leading the Attorney General’s Chambers’ appeal against Anwar Ibrahim’s acquittal for sodomy. Shafee’s appointment as Deputy Public Prosecutor smacks of desperation and sets another…

LFL: Stop the hate speech and demonisation of Shia Muslims

Press Statement 17 December 2013 Lawyers for Liberty is extremely concerned with the continuing hate speech and demonisation of Shia Muslims in Malaysia where not a day goes by without state and religious authorities condemning and exaggerating the perceived threats posed by Shia and its followers. This renewed and coordinated campaign has led to two…

LFL: Member of Parliament N.Surendran’s six months’ suspension is a serious blow to democracy

Press Statement Member of Parliament N.Surendran’s six months’ suspension is a serious blow to democracy 16 November 2013 Lawyers for Liberty is extremely shocked and outraged at the six months’ suspension motion from Parliament that was passed against Keadilan Member of Parliament N. Surendran yesterday. The motion, put forward by the Prime Minister’s Department alleged…

LFL: Doubling Detention Period in Lock-ups will lead to more Death

Press Statement 24 October 2013 Lawyers for Liberty is concerned with the suggestion to amend Section 7 of the Prison Act 1995. This amendment is to appoint police station and court house lock-ups to contain persons remanded under the Prevention of Crime Act 1959. Section 7 of the Prison Act only allows detention in police…

LFL: Latest SOSMA Amendments are Needless and Dangerous

Press Statement Latest SOSMA Amendments are Needless and Dangerous 23 October 2013 We call for caution against placing offences from the Penal Code and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIP) when amending the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA). These amendments reflect an attempt to widen the very draconian…

LFL: New Section 203A a license for Corruption Cover-up

Press Statement: 22 October 2013 Lawyers For Liberty is appalled at the BN government’s attempt to pass the new section 203A of the Penal Code Amendment bill, which criminalizes the act of unlawfully disseminating information received under any written law and carries a maximum fine of one million ringgit or a year imprisonment or both.…

LFL: Executing Suspected Criminals is Unlawful Killing

Press Statement 16 October 2013 Lawyers for Liberty is extremely concerned with the growing public perception that the police readiness to execute a suspect will create a safer environment. Executing a suspect without a judicial process or a valid legal defence is extra-judicial killing, is unlawful, bypasses the legal process and is no different from…

LFL: Home Minister Zahid Hamidi must be arrested and prosecuted

Press Statement: 10 October 2013 Lawyers for Liberty is deeply concerned and disturbed at Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s ‘shoot first’ approach to law enforcement, which was voiced at the Malacca International Trade Center in Malacca last Friday. The Home Minister was reported to have said that most victims of violent crime were in fact…

LFL: PCA, Penal Code and CPC amendments are the most serious assault on human rights and established legal principles since 1988

Press Statement 25 September 2013 PCA, Penal Code and CPC amendments are the most serious assault on human rights and established legal principles since 1988 Lawyers for Liberty is extremely shocked and concerned with the rash of proposed criminal law and procedure amendments with far reaching implications that were tabled in Parliament today. These amendments…