Selasa, 31 Julai 2012

Anwar Ibrahim

Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia: Cartoonist Case Tests Freedoms

Posted: 31 Jul 2012 12:10 PM PDT

From http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/07/31/malaysia-cartoonist-case-tests-freedoms

Civil Court Ruling Affects Free Expression

(Bangkok, July 31, 2012) – A Malaysian civil court ruling in the case of a prominent political cartoonist has set back the right to freedom of expression in the country, Human Rights Watch said today. The verdict finding the initial arrest and detention of Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque, better known as Zunar, was lawful under the Sedition Act and Printing Presses and Public Act was a disturbing rejection of the right to freedom of expression in all its forms, including cartoons.

However, in a positive development, the court ruled that the authorities' continued holding of books and artwork seized from Zunar was unlawful after the prosecutor decided to not formally file charges against the cartoonist. The court ruled that the books and artwork immediately be returned to Zunar, and ordered the registrar of the court to assess what damages should be awarded to Zunar.

Zunar has used political cartoons to highlight the responsibility of government officials for human rights abuses and other problems facing Malaysia. These include corruption, abuse of power, mismanagement of government revenues, racism, and failure to protect religious freedom. Repeated government attempts to stop his cartooning led Zunar on June 15, 2011, to file a civil suit against the government and police seeking damages for unlawful arrest and detention, and for confiscation of books and an original cartoon.

"The court's verdict against Zunar is no laughing matter, but of real consequence for Malaysia" said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The conclusion to be drawn is that politicians and officials who feel stung by Zunar's pen apparently count for more than free expression."

Zunar's lawsuit stems from police actions on September 24, 2010, several hours before the expected launch of his book Cartoon-O-Phobia. Police raided Zunar's office in Kuala Lumpur, confiscated all copies of the book they could find, and arrested Zunar for sedition and publishing without a license. After handcuffing him, police ferried Zunar to seven different police stations during the course of an evening before detaining him overnight in a police station one hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur. Home Minister Hishammudduin Hussein maintained at the time that Zunar was arrested for poking fun at the judiciary and at religion. However, a judge ordered Zunar released on September 25 without charge when arresting officers could not identify what content in Cartoon-O-Phobia they considered to be seditious.

In subsequent civil court proceedings, the first defendant, arresting officer Arikrishna Apparau, asserted he had examined Cartoon-O-Phobia, and believed the cartoons capable of confusing Malaysians and inciting hatred of the government and individual leaders. Zunar responded that the police never explained what content in his book they considered seditious, thus violating his right to be promptly informed of the grounds for his arrest.

In his civil suit, Zunar sought the return of all confiscated books plus damages. He alleged that his livelihood had been seriously affected by the continued ban on Cartoon-O-Phobia and two previous books, 1 Funny Malaysia and Perak Darul Kartun (Perak, Land of Cartoon). Government officials have threatened legal action against printing presses and publishers associated with Zunar's work, and against bookstores who stocked his books. In 2011, Zunar received the prestigious Hellman-Hammett award, given to writers and authors facing political persecution and violations of their rights to free expression.

The government also has announced deepening censorship on cartoons by barring all cartoons for a period of two weeks before the general election, expected to be called later this year. Zunar and a group of political cartoonists announced their opposition to this violation of their rights and said they will defy the ban.

"The government's decision to ban cartoons before the elections shows a remarkable lack of confidence in Malaysian voters – not to mention, no sense of humor," Robertson said. "Politicians from the prime minister down should recognize voters can laugh at them, and the government will not collapse."

Pakatan Says to Channel More Funds Towards Fighting Crime

Posted: 31 Jul 2012 03:11 AM PDT

The Malaysian Insider

The federal opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) today said that it would redeploy more resources to the police for criminal investigation to cut the crime rate if it takes power at the next general election.

PR leaders said today the coalition's proposals would be contained in its alternative Budget 2013 proposals.

"We have decided the current need of Malaysians is crime investigation and crime prevention," said PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar (picture) at a press conference after PR's weekly meeting.

PR plans to redeploy police officers from "non-priority" departments to the police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

PR also pointed out that the police's budget allocated for criminal investigation had only increased by eight per cent annually from 2010 to 2012.

The opposition pact compared it to the spending for internal security and public order which had an overall increase of 72.45 per cent in the same period of time, the highest spike in the police's budget.

Kenyataan Media Dato Seri Dr.Wan Azizah Wan Ismail

Posted: 31 Jul 2012 12:32 AM PDT

Melancarkan FACEBOOK:- “WANITA MALAYSIA MENENTANG JENAYAH”

Menteri Dalam Negeri Dato ‘Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein dan Ketua Pagawai Eksekutif PEMANDU Dato’ Seri Idris Jala telah menghabiskan masa sepanjang Julai mempertikaikan kenyataan kami bahawa kadar jenayah telah meningkat di Malaysia. Mereka sebaliknya yakin jenayah adalah di bawah kawalan dan menurun, kerana mereka masih menunjukkan statistik jenayah yang disediakan oleh PEMANDU.

 

Tetapi, pada masa yang sama, mereka telah mengumumkan beberapa inisiatif baru untuk memerangi jenayah, seperti MyDistress, Semakan Jenayah Online, meningkatkan pengambilan Rakan Cop dan pembiayaan serta jawatankuasa khas mengenai mangsa jenayah.Semua ini masih lagi dalam perancangan.

Apakah ini reaksi mereka terhadap kenyataan kami bahawa jenayah di Malaysia telah meningkat? Ini menunjukkan bahawa apa yang telah kami kemukakan adalah benar.

 

Ini meningkatkan rasa bimbang akan keselamatan ahli keluarga, rakan-rakan saya dan orang awam.

 

Jadi, hari ini saya melancarkan satu kempen untuk membanteras jenayah sebagai satu agenda nasional.

 

Sebagai seorang ibu dan nenek, saya menjemput semua ibu untuk turut serta berkempen di halaman Facebook saya “Ibu-ibu Malaysia Menentang Jenayah”


(https://www.facebook.com/mumsXcrime)


Laman Facebook ini terbuka kepada semua terutamanya wanita untuk memberikan sokongan terhadap kempen kami membenteras jenayah dan berkongsi idea bagaimana untuk menangani kadar jenayah di Malaysia.

 

Maklumat terkini seperti gambar, video tentang kegiatan jenayah bolehlah dikongsi bersama di halaman ini. Inilah peluang kita sebagai rakyat Malaysia untuk terlibat sama dan bekerjasama dalam menyedarkan rakyat tentang keselamatan di dalam negara kita.

 

Marilah kaum ibu semua, kita bersatu dalam menyuarakan perpaduan untuk memerangi jenayah. Kita mesti buktikan bahawa kita bukan kelompok minoriti. Ayuh kita bersatu dengan menyebarkan kempen ini agar suara rakyat akan menjadi lebih kuat demi keselamatan negara.

 

—

PRESS STATEMENT

31 JULY 2012


LAUNCHING "MALAYSIAN MOTHERS AGAINST CRIME" FACEBOOK PAGE


The Home Minister Dato' Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Chief Executive Officer of PEMANDU Dato' Seri Idris Jala have spent the whole of July disputing our contention that crime levels have risen in Malaysia. They are instead convinced crime is under control and dropping fast, as they haveinsisted on pointing to PEMANDU's crime statistics.

 

However, at the same time, they have announced a slew of new initiatives to fight crime, such as MyDistress, Semakan Jenayah Online, increasing Rakan Cop's recruitment and funding and a special committee on crime victims, which have been announced but not operating yet.

 

I am curious to know, are these measures a result of our campaign against crime, together with various reports of high-profile crimes?

 

If my campaign is making them listen more and respond with greater urgency, then I must carry on. However, if they are still not listening, then I have to work harder because Malaysia is becoming increasingly unsafe.

 

I worry for my family members, friends and the general public.

 

So I'm launching today a new initiative to bring crime fighting to the forefront of the national agenda.

 

As a mother and grandmother, I now invite all mothers to join my Facebook page "Malaysian Mothers Against Crime" (https://www.facebook.com/mumsXcrime)

This is a page where the public, women especially, can come and offer their support for our efforts to highlight crime and then offer ideas to curb it. Pictures, news and videos on crime and updates on situations can be shared on this page. This is where civic conscious Malaysians can engage and share with those equally worried about the state of security inside our country.

 

Let mothers speak out and display our solidarity to fight crime. We can start by showing that we are not the minority, that we are not a small number. The powers that be are only responding to statistics, so let's build the numbers and present to them the feelings of millions of ordinary Malaysians.

 

Join me and make the voices of the rakyat even louder.

DATO' SERI DR WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL
PRESIDENT
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