THE plight of Burmese refugees is being highlighted in NO REFUGE: Burmese Refugees in Malaysia, an exhibition featuring the works of award-winning photojournalists Halim Berbar from France, Simon Wheatley (UK), Greg Constantine (USA), Zhuang Wubin (Singapore) and Rahman Roslan from Malaysia. The event is organised by The Annexe Gallery and human rights organisation Suaram. The […]
rela
A night out with Rela
By Mien Ly(All pictures and videos courtesy of Mien Ly) “BUKA pintu! Buka pintu!” shout the volunteers through the grill door, into the hallway of the shop lots in Pudu. They are from Rela, a civil volunteer corp formed by the Malaysian government in 1972 to help preserve “peace and national security”. They are conducting a raid […]
Why the EAIC is unconstitutional
By Andrew KhooTHE Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission (EAIC) Bill 2009, passed by the Dewan Rakyat on 1 July and now on its way to the Dewan Negara, appears to be unconstitutional. The EAIC sets out to oversee the integrity of 21 law enforcement agencies, including the National Anti-Drugs Agency, Ikatan Relawan Rakyat Malaysia (Rela), the Road Transport […]
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 […]
Hishammuddin thankful no serious incidents in Perak
PUTRAJAYA, 7 May 2009: Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said he was glad that there were no incidents that jeopardised public order in the vicinity of the state government buildings in Ipoh during the first day of the Perak State Legislative Assembly sitting for the second term today. He said the situation could have […]
EAIC hamstrung by lack of power
By Deborah LohPETALING JAYA, 17 March 2009: The proposed Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) is a stronger body than the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), but could suffer from irrelevancy just like the latter. This is because it still lacks the independence that is necessary for its role as investigator of misconduct and abuse to be taken […]
Rela to be monitored
KOTA BARU, 4 March 2009: Besides the police and other enforcement agencies, Rela (People’s Volunteer Corps) will also come under the purview of the Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission, a bill for which will be tabled in Parliament soon. Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the significance of putting Rela under the commission’s jurisdiction […]
Bar Council’s call to disband Rela
KUALA LUMPUR, 5 Dec 2008: The Bar Council today called on the authority to disband Rela (People’s Volunteer Corps) following numerous reports on its members’ abuse of power and brutality in enforcement raids. Bar Council Law Reform and Special Areas chairperson Datuk M Ramachelvam said Rela members were not trained for such a job and […]
Foreigners threaten our country!
By Zedeck SiewSINCE February, I have been on the mailing list for Malaysia Untuk Malaysia (MUM), an anti-immigration and community safety non-governmental organisation. From their email exchanges, however, you’d think they were more of a social club. Not surprising, since their membership base is largely Klang Valley-centered, and seems comprised of white-collar professionals with families. As the […]
