Malaysia

While the move to decriminalise drug addiction stems from the understanding that addiction is a chronic medical condition requiring appropriate intervention instead of incarceration, the Malaysian government has stressed that decriminalisation is not the equivalent of legalisation. Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad, in an official statement yesterday (27 Jun), quoted former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s stance on governments’ approach in …

28 human rights groups and organisations, including MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture) and the Singapore Anti-Death Penalty Campaign, have expressed their discontent over the delay in appointing new Human Rights Commissioners for the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), and have urged Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his government to explain the delay. In a joint statement made …

Malaysia’s Ministry of Education (MOE) has instructed all 475 schools in Pasir Gudang to close for three days starting today (25 Jun) after residents reported experiencing vomiting and difficulty in breathing as a result of the latest pollution incident in the Johorean town. Johor’s education department director Azman Adnan said that the purpose behind ordering the three-day closure is to …

The Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office on Robinson Road, Singapore will hold a soft opening this week, says Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg. The Chief Minister said that the office, strategically in the heart of Singapore, will facilitate the promotion of the state’s agricultural and tourism products. Local site New Sarawak Tribune quoted the Minister saying …

Malaysia’s beloved badminton hero Lee Chong Wei is hanging up his racket for good effective immediately, citing his health reasons. The prolific Malaysian athlete announced his retirement today (13 June) at a press conference at Menara KBS in Putrajaya. Mr Lee was diagnosed with nose cancer in July last year and had taken a short break from training as he …

Malaysia’s Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali has vehemently denied the allegations surrounding his purported involvement in a sex video scandal, dismissing it as “a nefarious plot” to “assassinate” his “reputation and character” in a bid to damage his “political career”. In an official statement on Wed (12 Jun), he added that “this is clearly the latest in a series of …

Malaysia’s de facto Law Minister Liew Vui Keong has rejected allegations regarding his role in the Singapore Court of Appeal’s decision to stay 31-year-old Malaysian drug mule Pannir Selvam Pranthaman’s execution on Thu (23 May). The Star Online reported Liew as saying on Mon (27 May) that the claim made by “a certain quarter” in the Republic regarding his interference …

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak’s wife Rosmah Mansor will be required to make a declaration of her assets after failing to do so following a prosecution notice demanding her to declare the assets she had accumulated from 2009 to 2017. Bernama reported High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan as saying on Sat (25 May) in his dismissal of Rosmah’s …

Malaysian lawyer and founder of human rights and law reform organisation Lawyers For Liberty (LFL) N Surendran has lambasted Singapore’s Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam’s alleged “attack” on Malaysia’s de facto Law Minister Liew Vui Keong, branding the Minister’s remarks “arrogant & unbecoming” of a senior minister. Mr Shanmugam told The Straits Times that Datuk Liew had reached …

Palestinian students pursuing their undergraduate, postgraduate and post-doctoral degrees in 12 Malaysian universities stand to receive almost RM11.5mil in scholarships via the Palestinian Cultural Organisation Malaysia (PCOM), said Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Among the 12 universities are Multimedia University, UCSI University, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Sunway University, Universiti Kuala Lumpur and Universiti Utara Malaysia. Speaking at the 9th …