The recent allegations of negligence and cruelty to animals involving Platinum Dogs Club has angered many Singaporeans who have taken to the Internet to denounce the company and its owners. If there is any truth to the allegations, all the anger is justified and I fully agree that more laws need to be enacted to ensure that those who purport …
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Law Minister K Shanmugam assures Singaporeans that “there will be due process” regarding Platinium Dogs Club fiasco while protestors have yet to be probed over illegal assembly
Following two raids at Platinium Dogs Club at 7 Galistan Avenue at the end of last month over alleged animal abuse, Minister of Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam assured Singaporeans that "there will be thorough investigations and there will be due process" carried out by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and Singapore Police Force (SPF). He added on Friday …
Read More »Bill on deliberate online falsehoods to be tabled possibly by the first half of next year, says Senior Minister Edwin Tong as the prospect of GE2019 looms
Senior Minister of State for Law Edwin Tong has hinted at the tabling of a Bill aimed at curbing the spread of deliberate online falsehoods in the coming months after numerous consultations and debates among legislators and members of the public surrounding the potential anti-"fake news" laws. Mr Tong's revelation came not long after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had …
Read More »Thai parliament legalises marijuana for medicinal purposes as a “New Year’s gift” to the people
While many South-east Asian nations are known for having strict laws against drug use and possession, Thailand has decided to approve the use of marijuana for medical and research purposes on Tuesday (25 Dec), which marks the first instance in which the use of a recreational drug is legalised in the region. Thailand's history of marijuana use for medicinal purposes …
Read More »Amendments to Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act to take effect on 1 January 2019
The amendments to the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act, which were passed in Parliament on 6 Feb 2018, will take effect on 1 Jan 2019, announced the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a press release on Tuesday (11 December). The ministry stated that the Act provides for the maintenance of public safety, peace and good order through the detention …
Read More »Malaysia to table Bill to abolish death penalty, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department
A Bill on the abolishment of the death penalty will be tabled in the next Malaysian Parliamentary sitting, which will begin on Monday (15 Oct), according to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong. “Death penalty will be abolished. Full stop. Since we are abolishing the sentence, all executions should not be carried out," said the de …
Read More »Current Attorney-General responds to former A-Gs regarding Public Prosecutor’s scope of exercising own discretion in prosecuting cases under Section 377A
In a press release yesterday (2 Oct), the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) have responded to the comments of two former Attorneys-General, highlighting that the former A-Gs' statements might convey an "inaccurate impression" that the Public Prosecutor’s (PP) capacity to apply discretion "has been removed or restricted" in respect of the s.377A of the Penal Code. Professor Walter Woon and Mr V.K. …
Read More »Marital immunity for rape rooted in archaic colonial laws, incompatible with modern society’s morality: No To Rape Campaign activists
At the heels of the release of a report by the Penal Code Review Committee, part of which contains recommendations that will potentially remove husbands' marital immunity against charges of raping their wives, activists and founders of the No To Rape Campaign have raised questions regarding the law's seemingly slow progress in reflecting the values of society today. In a …
Read More »Penal Code review committee pushing for the repeal of legislation on attempted suicide, recommends treatment in place of criminalisation
The decriminalisation of attempted suicide has become one of the highest priorities of the Penal Code Review Committee (PCRC), as it has found that the criminal justice system is not well-equipped in dealing with individuals experiencing suicide ideation. The PCRC, which was convened by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Law (MLaw) in July 2016, proposed …
Read More »Petition supporting Jolovan hits 4915 signatures, delivered
The petition in support of Jolovan Wham, the activist who got slapped with 7 charges relating to organising public assemblies, has been delivered to the Prime Minister and Attorney General in both email and physical copy. Titled, “Drop charges against Jolovan Wham; Protect our freedom of expression”, the petition started at the beginning of December, and has hit almost 5000 …
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