By The Centre for Independent Journalism |
<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 “Utusan Malaysia”, a major Malay daily in the country, to abandon its intention to hold a domestic inquiry against one of its journalists.</p>
By The Centre for Independent Journalism |
<p>The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is concerned over the alleged assault of "Bernama" photographer Hairul Nizam Baharin while he was carrying out his duties on 9 January 2011. Reports indicate that Hairul Nizam was questioned by auxiliary police after he had taken photos near the Integrated Transportation Terminal in Bandar Tasik Selatan, Kuala Lumpur, at 11.30 a.m. on that day. He was allegedly punched, assaulted, handcuffed and brought to the police station after refusing their request to stop his motorcycle and provide his identification card.</p>
By The Centre for Independent Journalism |
<p>Malaysia - The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is greatly concerned at Home Minister Dato' Seri Hishammuddin Hussein's references to a new law that will be introduced to govern sedition in cyberspace. The Home Minister reportedly said that it would be based on existing Sedition Act (1948) and would assist in determining what can be prosecuted on the Internet.</p>
<p><em>Civil society organizations from various countries call for public attention to the plight of Burmese and Sri Lankan migrant workers in Malaysia.</em></p>
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<p>We, the undersigned 71 civil society organizations and groups, would like to express our serious concern that JVC has indicated that they will not re-new the employment contracts of Pa Pa Aye and 15 other Burmese women migrant workers, who lodged a claim at the Labour Department claiming worker rights that the JVC company had violated, amongst them the wrongful deduction of their wages to recover levy that employers have to pay when they employ foreign workers. The other 7 workers, who complained, whose contract was renewed in August, will also be terminated and repatriated. The information contained in this statement has been provided by the affected workers.</p>
By Pong Pan, Prachatai |
<p>KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Human rights activists in Kuala Lumpur have produced a play that takes a hard look at the death penalty, taking off from the story of a young Malaysian sentenced to hang in Singapore.</p>
By Southeast Asian Press Alliance |
<p>A Malaysian editor was charged on 2 September 2010 with publishing false information on his satirical blog, media reports said.</p>
<p>The Associated Press said Irwan Abdul Rahman, better known as blogger "Hassan Skodeng," and editor of the "Malay Mail" newspaper's lifestyle section was accused of publishing online content deemed "obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with malicious intent."</p>
By Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) |
<p>The massacre of 31 journalists in Maguindanao, the Philippines, on 23 November 2009, most graphically illustrates the violence and impunity that threaten journalists not only in the Philippines, but throughout the region.</p>
By Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, Malaysian Trades Union Congress |
<p>On the occasion of the United Nations' (UN) Human Rights Day, this is annually observed on December 10 to mark the anniversary of the presentation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) calls for a greater recognition and respect of workers’ rights in Malaysia. This year the theme determined by the United Nations is non-discrimination.</p>
By Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, Malaysian Trades Union Congress |
<p>Recently, it was reported that the retrenched workers of Nikko Electronics Bhd protested outside Penang State Assembly.(Star, 2/12/2009), seeking the State government's assistance to get their benefits and compensations. These were amongst the 1,000 odd workers that were retrenched suddenly without notice by their employer in July 2008. Apparently, their plea to the Minister, the Federal and State government have not been successful to date. If there was a National Retrenchment Scheme, as proposed by MTUC in 1998, in place, they could have resorted to this to get some compensation.</p>
By MADPET |
<p>MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture) is pleased that there is some realization from the government, in particular the Deputy Foreign Minister A. Kohilan Pillay, about the fact that ‘…young Malaysian girls, some fresh graduates, were easily conned by men from the syndicates to travel abroad with a package…’ The report also stated that ‘…Malaysian lasses are an easy lot to charm. They are easily smitten by sweet words and gifts, making them an easy target for drug-trafficking syndicates looking for mules…’ (<em>Star, 1/11/2009, Malaysian girls easily duped</em>)</p>
By Reporters Without Borders |
<p>The government’s decision to prosecute the company that published the new cartoon magazine Gedung Kartun for not having a permit is a setback for press freedom in Malaysia. The decision was announced by Jamilah Taib, the head of the interior ministry’s communication unit. The company insists it did get a verbal go-ahead.</p>
<p>On 3 September 2009, it was reported that a Burmese detainee at KLIA Immigration Detention Centre died on 29 August 2009 due to an unknown illness and six other detainees with similar symptoms were hospitalised at Putrajaya General Hospital[1]. On 25 September 2009, it was reported that six Burmese detainees have died at an undisclosed detention centre allegedly due to Leptospirosis[2]. Leptospirosis is an infectious disease that occurs due to water or food contaminated by animal urine.</p>