AS we head into the 13th general election since independence, it is time to review Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s human rights record. Many bold promises have been made since he took office in April 2009. Have they come to pass? Or have we gone two steps forward and two steps back and remained in the same place?
Harakah
Release of ISA detainees “a political ploy” (Updated)
By Deborah Loh(Updated 5:11pm, 4 April 2009) TAIPING, 4 April 2009: Pakatan Rakyat leaders in Bukit Gantang are calling the release of 13 Internal Security Act detainees a political ploy, and say it will not swing votes away from the PAS candidate. PAS national elections director Datuk Mustaffa Ali said voters would know that the release, promised […]
Lifting of suspension on papers welcomed
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 April 2009: PAS, in welcoming the decision by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to retract the suspension order on two papers — Harakah and Suara Keadilan — today, said the decision would reinforce democracy in the country. PAS Youth Chief Sallehuddin Ayob said the decision to retract the suspension order was a […]
Najib releases 13 ISA detainees (Updated)
(Updated 12:11, 4 April 2009) (pic courtesy of theSun) KUALA LUMPUR, 3 April 2009: New Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak tonight launched his administration with the release of 13 Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees. He also pledged to conduct a comprehensive review of the ISA which allows for indefinite detention without trial. In his […]
Media banning is legal
By Zedeck Siew“This is nothing. Why do you call it a crackdown? This is quite normal. We always give reminders to newspapers or political parties which publish organs regardless of whether it is the BN or other parties.” DEPUTY Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung, who said the suspension of two opposition party newspapers under the Printing […]
CIJ, Wami condemn suspension of newspapers
By Gayathry VenkiteswaranTHE Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) Malaysia and the Writers Alliance for Media Independence (Wami) strongly condemn the government’s latest assault on constitutionally enshrined freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. The Home Ministry has just suspended two opposition newspapers — Harakah and Suara Keadilan — for three months, effective 23 March 2009, with no […]
Suspension of newspapers benefits none: Khalid
KUALA LUMPUR, 24 March 2009: The Home Ministry’s suspension of Harakah and Suara Keadilan would not make much of an impact on the opposition alliance as more people prefered news portals as sources of information, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said today. He claimed the move was also politically-motivated to block both […]
Harakah, Suara Keadilan suspended three months
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 March 2009: The Home Ministry has suspended the publishing permits of Harakah and Suara Keadilan, the party organs for PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) with immediate effect. Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the action was taken because they had violated the conditions of their permits. He said they […]
PPPA bad for business
By Zedeck SiewTHE recent seizures of Suara Keadilan and Harakah have once again highlighted inherent difficulties posed by the Printing and Publications Act (PPPA) and its impact on our publishing industry. One aspect that has fallen by the wayside in the rush to speculate on the seemingly arbitrary confiscation — if they were part of a routine […]
