<p>At least eight Malaysian opposition activists were arrested yesterday in the run-up to a nation-wide rally in July 9.</p>

<p>Human rights defender Mr Charles Hector Fernandez is facing trial on 28-29 June 2011 for allegedly defaming Japanese-owned company Asahi Kosei (M) Shd. Bhd in Selangor, Malaysia. As the trial date is nearing, the Court has handed down a decision dated 11 April 2011 which appears to have concluded that that the defendant is guilty. Charles Hector Fernandez is a well-known human rights defender and lawyer who has represented workers and migrants for many years.</p>

<p>The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) Malaysia regrets the guilty verdict delivered on 14 April 2011 against National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Malaysia president, Mohamed Ha&rsquo;ta Wahari, for allegedly tarnishing his employer&rsquo;s image and revealing their &ldquo;secrets&rdquo;.<br /> &nbsp;</p>

<p>The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) Malaysia regrets that yet another reprimand was issued by the Home Ministry to the press, this time to &ldquo;The Star&rdquo;.</p>

<p>The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) Malaysia welcomes the withdrawal of the case against blogger &ldquo;Hassan Skodeng&rdquo;, whose real name is Irwan Abdul Rahman, over a satirical post he made almost a year ago. While CIJ is pleased that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has dropped the case, which was discharged by the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court on 15 March 2011, it notes that there were no grounds for prosecution to begin with, which raises questions as to why the case was allowed to come this far.</p>

<p>A review of 2010 indicates increased government effort to control freedom of expression and monopolise the dissemination of information. The Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government adopted a multi-pronged approach, using the myriad of laws at its disposal to curb expression.</p>

<p>The Union is appalled by the reaction of Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn.Bhd., a subsidiary of Asahi Kosei Japan Co. Ltd, in going after persons who highlighted the plight of Burmese migrant workers who work in the company&rsquo;s factory. We call for the immediate withdrawal of the threat of a legal suit demanding RM10,000,000-00 from Mr. Charles Hector for highlighting worker rights and human rights violation that were happening to the said 31 workers. </p>

<p><em>The Asian Human Rights Commission has written an open letter to Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd. Company in Malaysia in protest against its possible move to take legal action for libel against migrant labour rights advocate Charles Hector. </em></p>

<p>We, the undersigned <u>69</u> organizations, groups and networks are shocked at how&nbsp;&nbsp; Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn Bhd has unjustly treated its workers, in particular the 31 Burmese Migrant Workers, working at the factory at Lot 3377, Jalan Perusahaan Utama, Taman Industri Selesa Jaya, 43300 Balakong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.</p>

<p><strong>Reject Internet censorship; repeal the PPPA and Sedition Act</strong></p> <p>We are civil society groups alarmed by recent remarks from top ministerial personnel that revealed government intention to censor online free expression, from hints of &ldquo;cyber sedition regulations&rdquo; and the expansion of the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) to encompass the online media.</p>

<p>We, the undersigned 53 organizations, groups and networks are appalled that the Malaysian Government is now asking about 1.5 million migrant workers themselves, and not their employers, to buy a new Foreign Workers Hospitalisation and Surgical Insurance. If these migrant workers do not do so, the Malaysian government is threatening not to renew their work permits. The Malaysian Health Minister, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, also stated that the worker&rsquo;s work permits will not be renewed if there are outstanding hospital bills.</p>

<p>The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) Malaysia is calling for media freedom groups around the world to send a letter of appeal to the management of &ldquo;Utusan Malaysia&rdquo;, a major Malay daily in the country, to abandon its intention to hold a domestic inquiry against one of its journalists.</p>