CONFERENCE ON THE ROADMAP TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
The Malacca Bar Committee, Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI-Parliament) and Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI) are jointly organizing a Conference on the Roadmap to Local Government Elections with the aim to create public awareness on the role and workings of local government in Malaysia’s democratic system. There would be a discourse on the social and political factors leading to the present status quo on local government elections and various suggestions on how best to take this important process forward.
Prominent speakers from the academic sector, political quarters and non-governmental organizations include Professor Abdul Aziz Bari, Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Chin Fook Weng, Mr Derek Fernandes, Dr Goh Ban Lee, Mr Andrew Khoo, Mr Edward Lee, Mr Ronnie Liu, Mr Victor Oorjitham and Mr Sivarasa Rasiah.
We would like to extend the opportunity to members of the public to participate in this conference on the 26th July, 2008 at Kings Hotel, Lebuh Ayer Keroh, Melaka at 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Kindly notify Mr. Chong Yen Long (CPI) – H/P 012-970-2285, Mr. Anthony Chua – H/P: 012-628 8779 (Human Rights Sub-Committee Chairman), Ms. Lau Yi Lin – H/P: 013-374 1115 or Mr. Lawrence Ang (Executive Secretary) – 06-284 5519 / 06-286 4514 of your desire to take part in this conference before 24th July, 2008. Registration is RM 20.00 per-person and is on a first come first served basis.
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) Benar for Free and Fair Media (Benar) National Bloggers Alliance (All-Blogs)
Joint Statement
June 1, 2008
Media Law Reform to Complete Decolonization
CIJ, WAMI, Benar and All-Blogs congratulate the 150 journalists, bloggers and members of the public who walked from Merdeka Square to National Press Club (NPC) and later from the NPC to the square this morning to make a point: the nation's decolonization is not complete until the media is free.
We call upon the federal government to heed the public's call for media law reform by setting up a parliamentary select committee for a comprehensive reform involving at least five legislations: the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA), Sedition Act, Official Secrets Act (OSA), Internal Security Act (ISA) and Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA).
The select committee is a core demand in a five-month campaign beginning May 3rd and ending September 16th, which includes the walks for media freedom this morning. The demand was first made by 37 civil society groups in 2006.
Dato' Zaid Ibrahim, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department has unexpectedly demanded the journalist fraternity and civil society to prepare the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the select committee.
For all other select committees set up so far, on rape laws, national integration and integrity, the stakeholders have never been asked to prepare the TOR as this is the government's job.
We are pleasantly surprised by the generous invitation and will seek the collaboration of other parties like National UJ, NPC and Bar Council to prepare the TOR together.
We however do agree with the minister's call for the journalist fraternity, especially editors, to come together and not just blame the repressive laws for infringing media freedom. The call was made in his dialogue with journalists, bloggers and members of the public this morning between the walks.
We believe the mainstream media have the professional obligation to advance the cause of media law reform by facilitating public debates and discussions.
Notwithstanding this, the government must both recognize the public as a legitimate stakeholder and engage all stakeholders in media law reform.
We call upon all Malaysians to endorse our memorandum at http://benar.org/memo/ which demands for the abovementioned select committee, the shelving of PPPA before its abolition and the enactment of freedom of information laws at both federal and state levels.
CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH RAJA PETRA KAMARUDIN
It is with great concern that we, representing several Civil Society Action Groups, note that Raja Petra Kamarudin, Editor of news portal and blog, “Malaysia Today???, has been charged in the Petaling Jaya Sessions court with sedition in connection with an article he wrote and posted up at www.malaysia-today.net on April 25, 2008.
We call on all Malaysians concerned with the freedom of information and speech to stand up in support of a fellow Malaysian who has been writing “without fear or favour??? on issues of public and national concern.
The charge against Raja Petra is in connection with a Post entitled “Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell??? in which he raised pertinent questions on various facts of the case that are already within the domain of public knowledge. In our view the sedition charge is malicious and without merit. It is also politically motivated and aimed at silencing a principled and uncompromising voice speaking against the abuse of power, including those stemming from the highest level of government and authority.
We urge the Government to re-consider its action in pursuing what is being perceived in the country and internationally as blatantly selective and repressive persecution. The action not only runs counter to the Government’s expressed promotion of a democratic, informed and participatory society. It also smacks of a renewal of the tactics of fear and intimidation which were recently resoundingly rejected by the Malaysian electorate.
We are disappointed that, despite the Government’s rhetoric of learning from its past mistakes, it continues to rely on heavy handed authoritarian means to instill fear and to discourage its citizens from freely engaging in public discourse.
This action of the Government coming just a few days after World Press Freedom Day (which fell on May 3) especially makes a mockery of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s expression of commitment to democratic and social reforms to promote a more open and transparent government.
We agree with other human rights advocates that the present Sedition Act – initially enacted by the British colonial authorities - should have no place in our democratic society. Unlike the law on defamation, one cannot defend himself/herself from a charge of sedition on the ground of truthfulness. In other words, messengers may be shot for simply uttering the truth. That the State is using its legal apparatus to charge Raja Petra for sedition instead of the aggrieved party resorting to civil defamation points to the need for thorough reform of our media laws. This is not a new demand but one which has been consistently raised by civil society and progressive political parties.
As civil society action groups, we call upon all political parties, non-government organizations and individuals to express their concern and to show solidarity with Raja Petra. All freedom loving Malaysians must impress on the Government the need to withdraw this obnoxious action against a conscientious writer and true Malaysian.
Finally, we urge fellow Malaysians to respond positively to any future appeals for donations to a Legal Fund properly constituted in defence of Raja Petra and to show our solidarity for a national cause aimed at protecting our freedom of speech.
Press Statement issued jointly by:
Dr Lim Teck Ghee,
Director,
Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI)
Ahirudin Attan
President, Interim Council
National Alliance of Bloggers
Wong Chin Huat
Chairperson,
Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
Gayathry V.
Executive Director
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
Ser Choon Ing
Chairman of Civil Rights Committee
KL and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
Ho Yock Lin
Director
Empower (Pusat Janadaya)
Irene Xavier, President Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
The Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI-Parliament) stresses that a loyal opposition is a legitimate and necessary part of any system of democracy, including our constitutional monarchy. We strongly criticise the threatened use of the Sedition Act 1948 and the leveling of accusations of treason against anyone who has a critical view of our political system, regardless of whether the person is a parliamentarian, a member of the royalty or an ordinary citizen, especially by those who would take offence for purely populist or politically-partisan purposes.
CSI-Parliament stresses that the democratic space for debate and deliberation on issues of national interest is now more important to protect as the country makes its ways through uncharted waters of deeper democratization and more extensive political plurality at the state government level.
The initial sacking of Perak Religious Department Director Datuk Jamry Sury by the Pakatan Rakyat state government, the subsequent order by HRH the Sultan of Perak to reinstate him, and the consequent criticism by Karpal Singh MP of HRH the Sultan of Perak’s order have resulted in different perspectives of the law and constitutional convention brought to public attention.
Let us not forget a similar situation faced by the Barisan Nasional in attempting to nominate its candidates for the post of Menteri Besar in Perlis and Terengganu. Political convention and processes in the latter cases - hitherto taken for granted - were then called into question by many, including Government and Barisan leaders. While at the end of the day there can only be one lawful position on the matter, there must be sufficient room for legitimate public discussion and deliberation of what exactly that position is.
In connection with the new controversy over various statements of Parliamentarian Karpal Singh, CSI-Parliament condemns political manoeuvres which are bent on manipulating a complex though legitimate difference of opinion on constitutional law and the position of the Malay Rulers into a so-called stand-off between the palace and the opposition. Just as dangerous is the attempt by some quarters to portray this incident as a potentially seditious and treasonous questioning of royal prerogatives, and consequently a perceived slighting of the position of one particular community.
CSI-Parliament is confident that wise counsel shall prevail and that the unacceptable attempt by certain parties to take advantage of this situation to promote ill-will and hostility between the races will fail miserably. It is these irresponsible parties who are the real threat to peace and stability in this country.
To ensure an inclusive process of democratization and the liberty to engage in healthy and open debate free from threats of sedition and accusations of treason, CSI-Parliament takes this opportunity to echo the longstanding call by the Bar Council and other civil society organizations to abolish the Sedition Act 1948. More pertinent legislation to bring genuine threats against the public order before the courts of our land is already available in our statute books.
GBM strongly urges the newly established National Unity Consultative Council to issue an immediate statement against the rising politicisation of religous sentiment as well as calls upon the PM Najib Razak to censure extremist elements within Umno which are clearly linked to the groups that are stoking religious hostilities.
