Browsing Category

Civil Society

914 posts

BERSIH urges Anwar to prioritise Malaysia’s institutional reform to ensure stability of the Govt

Thomas Fann, the chairman of The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH), has urged Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to prioritize institutional reforms to ensure stability in the government. Fann called for reforms that promote political stability and inclusivity, including granting equal rights to backbenchers and opposition MPs in Parliament. He highlighted that while the anti-hopping law has been put into action, other reforms such as political financing and fair allocation of resources are still pending. Fann also warned that failure to implement these reforms could lead to further turmoil and instability in government.

FORUM-ASIA calls for dropping of charges against Indonesian human rights defenders

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) has urged the Indonesian government to drop criminal defamation charges against human rights defenders Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar. The charges stem from a YouTube video that discusses the involvement of retired Indonesian National Armed Forces Generals in alleged mining exploitation. The pair face up to four years in prison if found guilty.

65-year-old Sarawak cancer patient not able to travel for treatment after IC confiscated by registration department

A cancer patient in Malaysia is unable to attend medical treatment after the National Registration Department confiscated her MyKad, as it was allegedly found that she holds Indonesian nationality, according to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. The seizure of the woman’s identity card was condemned as an “unlawful and unconstitutional act” by Lawyers for Liberty, as it deprived her of her rights, including her right to receive cancer treatment at government hospitals. Sarawak Health Department assured that regardless of the patient’s registration status and nationality, they will continue to provide her with medical treatment.

Southeast Asian Parliamentarians condemn Thai authorities for handing over Myanmar opposition members to junta allies

Parliamentarians from Southeast Asia have condemned the Thai authorities for handing over three members of Myanmar opposition forces to junta allies, where they are likely to be tortured or worse. The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) called on the Thai government and international community to ensure such an incident does not happen again. The decision to release these three men into the hands of the Myanmar junta, which has repeatedly arbitrarily arrested, tortured, and at times even extrajudicially executed dissidents, is clearly in violation of the UN Convention Against Torture, which Thailand has officially adopted.

Hong Kong journalists find new homes overseas as media crackdown persists

A new survey by the Association of Overseas Hong Kong Media Professionals (AOHKMP) and supported by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) found that hundreds of Hong Kong journalists have fled to countries such as Canada, Australia, and the United States following the crackdown on freedom of expression in the former British colony. The research also produced the first comprehensive picture of newly established overseas Hong Kong media platforms providing independent news and commentary. Chair of the AOHKMP, Joseph Ngan, said, “This survey paints a picture of an exiled media community facing multiple challenges combined with a motivation to maintain the tradition of a free Hong Kong media, albeit in exile.”

Malaysia takes significant step towards abolition of death penalty, say activists

Malaysia’s Lower House of Parliament has passed the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Bill 2023, which replaces 11 offences previously punishable by automatic death sentences with discretionary ones. Dr Lim Chee Han, co-founder of Agora Society Malaysia, praised the move as a “huge step forward” and hopes that it will motivate other countries to follow suit. Lawyer and anti-death penalty activist Ngeow Chow Ying noted that Malaysia has only abolished the mandatory death penalty, meaning judges still have the option to hand down death sentences. Meanwhile, Professor Saul Lehrfreund, Co-Executive Director of The Death Penalty Project, believes that Malaysia’s move is a major milestone and could inspire other countries in the region to reform their own death penalty laws.

Professor Tay Kheng Soon highlights selling of HDBs as assets as Singapore’s greatest housing mistake

Renowned architect and housing policy expert Professor Tay Kheng Soon expressed concern over Singapore’s public housing policies at a town hall meeting organised by “Workers Made Possible” on 9 April. He believes the government’s decision to promote public housing as an asset has resulted in weakened society and a housing problem that has no solution.

Over 1 million European lawyers stand in solidarity with M Ravi, petition Singapore President to revoke suspension

The President of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), Panagiotis Perakis, has written a letter to the President of Singapore, Mdm Halimah Yacob, expressing concerns over the recent suspension of human rights lawyer Mr M. Ravi and petitioning her to do everything in her power to address the unjust suspension against him. The CCBE represents the bars and law societies of 46 countries and over 1 million European lawyers. They place great emphasis on respect for human rights and the rule of law, and are particularly concerned with the situation of human rights defenders around the world. CCBE urges President Halimah to drop the charges against Mr Ravi, citing the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers. Commenting on the letter by CCBE, Mr Ravi said that he is glad to have received the support and solidarity of over 1 million lawyers across Europe on his unjust suspension. “I urge lawyers in Singapore to stand up for their rights as the confidence in the Bar is being eroded with the profession being cowed into fear.”

Singapore’s Mediacorp defends drama series “Silent Walls” against accusations of harmful gay stereotypes

Mediacorp’s TV drama “Silent Walls” has received criticism from some members of the LGBTQ community for perpetuating harmful gay stereotypes. The criticism was primarily driven by an article from online LGBTQ+ publication Dear Straight People, which called out the relationship between two characters, citing their “problematic” large age gap as well as reinforcing the harmful stereotype that gay men are predators and groomers. The storyline was also criticized for implying that gay men are all diseased and promiscuous, suggesting that gay couples will always meet a tragic fate.

Malaysia’s PM pledges permanent positions for 12,800 contract doctors within 3 years in response to strike

Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has promised to hire 12,800 contract doctors into permanent positions within the next three years in response to recent contract doctors’ strikes. The government has allocated RM19.7 billion (US$4.4 billion) in emoluments in Budget 2023, with RM1.1 billion allocated for the absorption of contract doctors into permanent positions. The additional funding has been announced in response to calls for greater job security, higher pay and reduced hours. Contract doctors have been resorting to strikes and protests to demand better employment terms since the “Hartal Doktor Kontrak” movement launched in July 2021.