The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) rallied in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, 27 Feb 2011, to protest against the use of the novel Interlok in schools. However, the exercising of fundamental citizens’ rights in a democracy has been met with opposition, criticism and police action. Who are the people who would oppose and demonise freedom of assembly and expression?
Hindraf
What happens under ISA detention
By Gan Pei Ling
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak promised to review the ISA when he came into office in April 2009. But the government continues to defend the need for detention without trial in the interest of “national security”. In the meantime, those who have been detained under the ISA tell stories of state abuse of power and torture.
In this second of a series of interviews with former ISA detainees, The Nut Graph speaks with Mat Sah Mohd Satray and his wife, Norlaila Othman, about his arrest and detention under the ISA in April 2002.
The BN’s ISA dilemma
By Shanon ShahHOME Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein announced in August 2009 that amendments to the Internal Security Act (ISA) would be tabled during the following October Parliament sitting. This was just after the massive anti-ISA protest in Kuala Lumpur. That amendment, however, never materialised. Hishammuddin then said in December 2009 that the ISA amendments would be […]
Uthayakumar’s bid to move sedition trial to High Court dismissed
KUALA LUMPUR, 27 Oct 2009: The High Court today dismissed lawyer P Uthayakumar’s application to transfer his sedition trial from the Sessions Court to the High Court. Justice Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah said Uthayakumar’s main argument that the case involved complicated issues in law held no merit. He said Sessions Court judges had all […]
No pass for Waythamoorthy
By Koh Lay Chin“I am not really aware of what has happened to Waythamoorthy, but as far as I am concerned, the Government has not ordered for his passport to be revoked. If he wants to return to Malaysia, he can do so.” Former Home Minister Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar tells reporters on 16 May 2008 that […]
Demonstrations
By The Nut Graph teamTHE 1 Aug 2009 anti-Internal Security Act (ISA) street rally attracted big crowds scattered around the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The throng of people easily numbered 20,000 but could have been more. Demonstrators sported headbands, T-shirts and banners that decried the draconian law. They called for the Act, which allows for indefinite state detention without […]
PSM: Penang govt must solve Kg Buah Pala issue
By Gan Pei LingPETALING JAYA, 3 July 2009: The Penang government needs to intervene and solve the Kampung Buah Pala issue even though the problem was caused by the previous Barisan Nasional administration, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) said today. “[W]e urge the Pakatan Rakyat government to resolve this issue politically using the mandate given by the people of […]
Wooing the Indian Malaysian vote
By Deborah LohHindraf vigil on 27 Sept 2008 ON 25 Nov 2007, the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) burst into public consciousness through a mammoth street rally. Few doubt that Hindraf was pivotal in swinging Indian Malaysian votes away from the Barisan Nasional (BN) three months later in the March 2008 general election. On 2 July 2009, […]
Uthayakumar released with conditions, court told
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 June 2009: P Uthayakumar’s release from Internal Security Act (ISA) detention in May was with conditions, the High Court was told today. Deputy Public Prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin said the Hindraf lawyer was released subject to seven restrictions set out in the directive to suspend the detention order by the Home Ministry dated […]
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 […]
