IS Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak a prime minister of reform as he’s been portrayed to be? Is he more respectful of human rights and dissenting views compared to his predecessor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi? Is he less or more prone to strong-arm tactics? A comparison of how the government treated Bersih in 2007 and how it is treating Bersih 2.0 in 2011 gives Malaysians and the world an indication of whether things have gotten better under Najib or much worse.
Amnesty International
Violence against Penan: How the government ignores indigenous rights
By Ding Jo-Ann
THE phenomenon of indigenous women like the Penan being violated is not peculiar to Malaysia. Indeed, there are parallels in other countries, including a developed nation like the US. In their 2007 report, Maze of Injustice: The failure to protect indigenous women from sexual violence in the USA, Amnesty International (AI) reported that indigenous women […]
AI highlights racial discrimination in M’sia
By Gan Pei LingPETALING JAYA, 28 May 2009: For the first time in its annual human rights report for Malaysia, Amnesty International (AI) has highlighted racial discrimination as one of several human rights violations in the country. The 2009 report said that racial discrimination was institutionalised in Malaysia, particularly in government-backed affirmative action policies for bumiputeras such as […]
ISA perspectives
By Gan Pei Ling“This (punishment) is more cruel than the ISA (Internal Security Act).” Former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo referring to his one-year suspension from the Selangor legislative assembly, which was recommended by the state’s Rights and Privileges Committee. The committee found Khir guilty for not turning up at a Select Committee on […]
Making Kugan’s death matter
By Zedeck Siew(Pic by Mark Coggins / Flickr) THE fresh findings on what caused A Kugan’s death while in police custody are horrific and outrageous. Politicians, civil society groups and citizens have all expressed shock and anger. Unfortunately, Kugan’s death is not an isolated incident. In February 2005, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in his capacity as […]
Do boycotts work?
By Zedeck SiewAS the attacks on Palestine intensified before an uncertain ceasefire took place, one other clarion call, apart from the call to stop Israel, was to boycott American products and the US dollar. No less than former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has lent weight to this rally. Placard in a demonstration in Seattle, Washington (© […]
