Malaysians must affirm free speech and denounce religious intolerance

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Category: CPI Press Releases

Published: Tuesday, 12 August 2008 15:19

Posted by CPI

Dewan Perhimpunan China Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor

The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall

Joint Press Statement on 12th August 2008

Malaysians must affirm free speech and denounce religious intolerance
 
We the undersigned organizations call upon all Malaysians to categorically express their disapproval of the actions of a small minority that resorted to intimidatory action to stop the forum on "Conversion to Islam: Art 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution, Subashini & Shamala Revisited" organized by the Bar Council on August 9.
 
While it is necessary for all Malaysians to be mindful of religious sensitivities, such respect must not extend to the condoning of extreme acts which are aimed at curbing legitimate public discussion. 
 
In the specific case of the Bar Council seminar, we are given to understand that it was primarily an effort aimed at helping to clarify various legal and administrative provisions on religious conversion issues.  The forum could have provided useful inputs on helping resolve recent controversial developments had it not been unfairly misrepresented by various quarters, including the Government. 
 
In fact, the organizers had taken the initiative to invite distinguished speakers from the Federal Territory Religious Affairs Department and Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKMI).  Both speakers however declined invitation apparently after the forum was demonized by some quarters
 
We uphold the right of our fellow Malaysians to exercising their freedom to dissent and even to engage in peaceful demonstration in defence of their concerns.  If the protest outside the Bar Council had been civil and dignified, it would have been fully acceptable. 
Unfortunately this turned out not to be the case. Although no violence ensured, the resort of rough action and abusive shouts of "babi" (pigs), "pengkhianat" (traitors) and "balik China" (return to China) indicate an alarming level of religious intolerance by this small minority.  This is completely unacceptable to us and all right thinking Malaysians.
 
We also note with dismay the police submission to the pressure of the protesters and their "advice" to the organizers to bring about a premature end to the meeting.  This guidance follows closely on the government's own earlier reaction to the planned event and its attempt to compel the organizers to call off the event.  The blatant double standards employed by Government and police in dealing with the protestors and the forum subject raises questions about the even handed and fair treatment accorded to all religions that the Government and authorities claim is happening in the country.
 
In this connection too, we would like to express our disappointment with the participation of the members of three political parties, UMNO, PAS and PKR as well as two parliamentarians, Zulkifli Nordin (Kulim-Bandar Baru) and Sallahudin Ayob (Kubang Kerian) in the abusive group of demonstrators. The top leadership of these three parties must instruct their members to avoid looking out for opportunistic or narrowly partisan political and  religious advantage at the expense of national interest. PKR leaders' prompt censure of Zulkifli Nordin's abusive behaviour is therefore commendable and exemplary.
 
Finally we note with concern and condemn the petrol bombs attack directed at the previous house of Bar Council President Dato' Ambiga Sreenevasan. We hope that there is no connection between that act and the role of the Bar Council in organizing the seminar and call on the authorities to fully investigate that action and bring the perpetrators to book
 
The Undersigned Organizations:
 
1.      Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI)
2.      Civil Rights Committee of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH)
3.      Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI-Parliament)
4.      Council of Malaysian Indian Trustee
5.      Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram)
6.      Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic movement ?DEMA?
7.      Persatuan Kebajikan Cahaya Wawasan Selangor
8.      Persatuan Kebajikan Bharatham Selangor
9.      Persatuan kebajikan Vanniar Klang
10.  Pertubuhan Belia Hindu Pelabuhan Klang
11.  Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
12.  Youth Section of Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH-YS)

This signature campaign is initiated by Civil Rights Committee of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH) and Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI).
 
Issued by
Mr Ser Choon Ing, (Chairperson, Civil Rights Committee, KLSCAH)
Mr Wong Chin Huat (Chairperson, WAMI)
 
For any details, please contact:
The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
NO. 1, Jalan Maharajarela,
50150 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-22746645
Fax: 03-22724089

The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) is the umbrella organization of over 400 various Chinese community-based organizations in Klang Valley. The Civil Rights Committee (CRC) is a subsidiary committee of the KLSCAH specially tasked with the advocacy of civil rights.

WAMI is a group of writers for the Chinese media in Malaysia, which aims to defend and promote media independence for freer public discussion and wider democratic space. It was formed by about 90 writers who quit writing for the mainstream Chinese media in  May 2001, in protest of the coerced takeover of the non-partisan Nanyang Press by the  Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a ruling coalition member party.  For further information please visit www.wami528.com
 

Press statement by Dr. Lim Teck Ghee, Director, Centre for Policy Initiatives on Saiful’s Sodomy Allegation

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Category: CPI Press Releases

Published: Monday, 28 July 2008 03:56

Posted by Dr. TG Lim

Press statement by Dr. Lim Teck Ghee, Director, Centre for Policy Initiatives on Saiful’s Sodomy Allegation

The disclosure of an earlier medical report on Saiful’s allegations against Anwar has now been followed by a widely circulated – though not available in the mainstream mass media - copy of the report lodged at Hospital Pusrawi Sdn Bhd at 2.14 pm on 28 June 2008.  This new report – and all the doubts and questions it raises – should not be concealed or kept out of public scrutiny by the mainstream media, the Government authorities or other interested parties for their own selfish interest. 

Given the high political leadership stakes as well as enormous national and international interest in the new sodomy charge against the country’s most prominent opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim – and indirectly against the newly formed opposition front, Pakatan Rakyat - it is imperative that all Malaysians – in their individual and organizational capacities – should raise their voices to show their concern for the full, transparent, and fair disclosure of all the facts and developments in the case, and to demand that swift justice should prevail.  Further attempts at one sided or politically biased and manipulative handling of the case will cause the nation even more grievous damage than what has already been inflicted.

Kuala Lumpur 29 July 2008

JOINT PRESS STATEMENT ON POLICE DETENTION OF BLOGGER BAKAQ

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Category: CPI Press Releases

Published: Friday, 08 August 2008 09:57

Posted by AllBlogs, CPI

JOINT PRESS STATEMENT ON POLICE DETENTION OF BLOGGER BAKAQ

The National Alliance of Bloggers and the Centre for Policy Initiatives view with dismay the detention of another Blogger Bakaq (Abdul Rashid Abu Bakar) aka Penarik Beca, which indicates a worrying trend of the government's lack of commitment to open, public discourse. This latest detention followed the repeated police harassment of Malaysia Today editor and blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin before formally charging him with sedition and then defamation. As civil society members, we view such developments with great concern.

Bloggers in general have proven themselves useful in providing feedback to both the Government and Opposition on issues of national importance, and the Fifth Estate members do play a significant check-and-balance role in national affairs. This is well acknowledged by the opposition leaders and some in government.

The present administration must strictly adhere by and honour the Multi-Super Corridor (MSC) Bill of Guarantees conceptualised in 1996 which includes a provision that the government will not institute Internet censorship.

Any breach of the Bill of Guarantees will not only hamper the promotion of rational discourse using the Internet medium but also set back the government's efforts to draw in Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). More important, the government’s action will adversely affect international opinion on Malaysia’s commitment to basic freedoms.

We, the undersigned, therefore urge the authorities to immediately release Saudara Bakaq unconditionally, and that the government practises what it preaches about freedom of speech and the respect for human rights for all Malaysian citizens, whether they choose to agree with or beg to differ from the government's views and policies.

Kuala Lumpur
August 8, 2008


Ahirudin Attan
Interim President, National Alliance of Bloggers (AllBlogs)

Dr Lim Teck Ghee
Director, Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI)

Joint Press statement

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Category: CPI Press Releases

Published: Sunday, 27 July 2008 05:36

Posted by Dr TG Lim

Joint Press statement issued by

Mr. Ng Peng Kong, Melaka Bar Committee Chairman

Dr. Lim Teck Ghee, Director, Centre for Policy Initiatives

Mr. Wong Chin Huat, Civil Society Parliamentary Initiative for Parliamentary Reform

This press statement is issued as the outcome of the “Road Map to Local Government Elections??? Conference jointly organized by the Malacca Bar Committee, Centre for Policy Initiatives and Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI-Parliament) on July 26 2008 in Malacca.

Participants at the one day conference adopted the following resolutions:

1. the restoration of local elections constitutes an important step forward in reviving democracy, improving the standard of governance, and checking the scourge of corruption, excesses and mismanagement presently plaguing the urban population in Malaysia;

2. the restoration of local elections lies clearly within the jurisdiction of the state government, as provided for by the Article 113(4) and Item 4, List II, Schedule 9 in the Federal Constitution. State governments, especially the Pakatan Rakyat ones which have made election promises on reviving local elections, should take immediate steps to formulate state laws to such effect;

3. the Federal Government should, at the same time, initiate consultations with the general public and hold negotiations with the state governments to formulate a comprehensive plan to have local elections that are clean, free, fair and representative.

Speakers at the conference included the following:

Professor Abdul Aziz BARI is lecturing at the Department of Public Law at the International Islamic University.

Tan Sri Dato’ Dr CHIN Fook Weng is a national speaker for Gerakan and a former senator and Associate Professor.

Mr Derek FERNANDES is a town planning lawyer and a member of the Petaling Jaya City Council.

Dr GOH Ban Lee is a retired USM Associate Professor interested in urban governance, housing and urban planning.

Mr Andrew KHOO is the Co-Deputy Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee, with interests running from parliamentary reform, electoral reform to Free Trade Agreements.

Mr Edward LEE is the state assemblyperson for Bukit Gasing and the President of Resident Association Section 5 Petaling Jaya.

Mr Ronnie LIU is the state assemblyman for Pandamaran, Selangor and the Selangor Government Exco member for Local Government, Study and Research Committee.

Mr Victor OORJITHAM is the Chairman of Maxwell Towers Resident Association (local joint action committee) and former local councilor for Petaling Jaya.

Mr Sivarasa RASIAH is the member of Parliament for Subang and the Vice President of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.   

Melaka, 26 July 2008