Is Malaysia on the way to becoming more democratic? (© flydime | Flickr) IT has now been two full years since the historic March 2008 elections in Malaysia. But during this period, what have Malaysians actually learnt about the nature of democracy? Is Malaysia on the way to becoming more democratic? Citizens can use several […]
human rights
Normalising caning
By Ding Jo-Ann and Patrick Kratzenstein(Corrected at 3:10pm, 8 March 2010) “The public and world community no longer needs to fear caning as a punishment under the syariah because it is not cruel but instead educates the offenders. It also provides awareness and teaches the offenders to repent and not repeat the acts.” Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who […]
Building Malaysia
By Ding Jo-Ann(All following pics courtesy of Sivarasa Rasiah) GENETICIST. Lawyer. Human rights activist. Subang Member of Parliament. Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president. Sivarasa Rasiah has worn many hats. Sivarasa returned to Malaysia on his 30th birthday in 1986 and began a life of activism in championing human rights. The Rhodes scholar says he began thinking critically about […]
Malay rights, Islam and royalty
By Ding Jo-Ann(Ahmad Ismail pic courtesy of Oriental Daily) HARDLY a year goes by in Malaysia without some kind of public dispute involving race and religion. The issue for 2010: “Allah“. 2009: Cow-head protesters and Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno‘s whipping sentence. 2008: Datuk Ahmad Ismail and his “pendatang” slurs against non-Malay Malaysians. 2007: Lina Joy‘s contentious conversion […]
Hope and homelessness
Compiled by Nick Choo
MARGINALISED to the edges of society, the homeless and urban poor have virtually no rights. The longstanding problems of poverty and homelessness in Malaysia will be highlighted in Homelessness, a photo exhibition presented by Amnesty International (AI) Malaysia. Above are selections from the exhibition. Homelessness is part of Write Up 4 Rights, a two-day letter-writing […]
Police injunction undermines fundamental rights
By Amnesty International MalaysiaAMNESTY International Malaysia (AI) is deeply concerned over the use of a blanket injunction reportedly obtained by the police for the 28 Oct 2009 Perak state legislative assembly. Such restraining orders allow for abuse of police powers, as any person within a stipulated range can be arrested without due process and proper examination of facts. […]
1Malaysia and citizenship
By Dr Chandra Muzaffar(Source: Wiki Commons) SINCE 1Malaysia accords with the Malaysian constitution, what are some of the constitution’s main principles that can help to promote the idea? Is citizenship one such principle? The concept of common citizenship contained in the constitution is one of the most solid foundations for the creation of a united, integrated nation, a […]
Whipping violates human rights
By Sisters in IslamSISTERS in Islam (SIS) urges the government to review whipping of women as a form of judicial punishment by the syariah courts. Whipping constitutes further discrimination against Muslim women in Malaysia and violates constitutional guarantees of equality and non-discrimination. Only Pahang, Perlis and Kelantan provide whipping of women under their Syariah Criminal Offences Code. Whipping […]
Who’s afraid of Indonesian maids?
By Yow Hong ChiehChua Soi Lek questions the impact of giving a day off to domestic helpers MAIDS are people too. But you would not think so judging from the shockingly negative response from employers of domestic helpers to government legislation making one day of leave per week mandatory. Opposition to this law has laid bare the knee-jerk […]
Nazri promises to ensure rule of law
By Zedeck SiewKUALA LUMPUR, 23 June 2009: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has promised to look into the Bar Council’s complaints about the arrest of five lawyers in May who tried to represent their clients at the Brickfields police station. “I have accepted this memo, and [the complaints] are in my jurisdiction, I […]
