The body of Mohamad Johari Abu Bakar who was shot on 13 May had to wait for four hours in a parked van before University Malaya Medical Centre finally accepted it late this evening. “Complete insensitivity,” said an irate Latheefa Koya over the phone just now. “I am shocked,” the lawyer added of the hospital’s…
We, the undersigned civil society organizations, wish to express our opposition to the proposed Australia-Malaysia bilateral agreement, in principle, to transfer the next 800 asylum seekers seeking asylum in Australia to Malaysia. Although the terms of the joint agreement remain vague, we are of the view that the Australian Government is making a mistake in…
Tenaganita executive director Irene Fernandez (left) talks to journalists outside the Australia embassy in Kuala Lumpur on May 25, 2011. — PHOTO: AFP KUALA LUMPUR – RIGHTS activists stepped up their battle on Wednesday against Australia’s decision to send 800 boatpeople to Malaysia, claiming the deal threatens the migrants’ safety. Representatives from five rights…
KUALA LUMPUR: Several NGOs submitted a joint memorandum to the Australian High Commission here today protesting the asylum seekers swap between Malaysia and Australia. At a press conference later, Tenaganita chairman Irene Fernandez said civil societies were in the dark about the details of the agreement. “So we asked for the details but the deputy…
The family outside the police station in Damansara with PKR MP R. Sivarasa two weeks ago after they made their police report. — Picture by Choo Choy May SHAH ALAM, May 25 — The High Court today granted the family of the late Mohamad Johari Abu Bakar a second post-mortem, but asked the family…
PETALING JAYA: Local NGOs agreed with the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) that Australia’s plan to send boat people to Malaysia could be illegal. High Commissioner Navi Pillay was quoted in the Australian media today as saying that the refugee swap would be against the law since Malaysia was not a…
SHAH ALAM, May 24 — The family of the late Mohamad Johari Abu Bakar has accused a government pathologist of failing to consult and inform them of the first post-mortem done on the 17-year-old on May 13. Dr Abdul Karim Tajuddin, a government pathologist in Hospital Serdang, conducted a post-mortem on the teenager after he…
PETALING JAYA: The right to legal representation while in police custody is as important as ensuring that the individuals and lawyers have a safe environment in which to meet. Malaysian Bar secretary Tony Woon said the initiative to have lawyers meet clients, who are in police custody, on the ground floor of police stations could…
A coalition of high-profile Malaysian lawyers and human rights groups have called on Australia to scrap its refugee exchange deal with Malaysia immediately. The groups, which include the Malaysian Bar Council and human rights organisation Suaram, accused Australia of trying to “outsource” its international obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention. They were due to meet…
Tan Tian Maw sits in an office on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, hands trembling in her lap, and describes how she was raped by two Malaysian policemen. Her voice is soft and barely audible above the dragon boat drummer practising outside. “She hasn’t had any trauma counselling,” her lawyer, Latheefa Koya, explains.…
Lawyers for Liberty is outraged though not at all surprised by High Court judge Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah in ruling that the prosecutors led by Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden have proven a prima facie case against Anwar Ibrahim and called for him to enter his defence. Let there be no doubt: the Anwar Ibrahim trial is a sham and has absolutely…
GOMBAK: A district police chief has come to the defence of his men, saying that a lawyer who claimed intimidation had misunderstood his officers’ intention. Gombak OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rahim Abdullah said the officers were merely trying to ensure the safety of Fadiah Nadwa Fikri and her client who was detained at the Gombak…
A tearful Salmah speaks to reporters outside the Damansara police station, May 15, 2011. — Pictures by Choo Choy May PETALING JAYA, May 15 — The family of Johari Abu Bakar have demanded an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the 17-year-old’s shooting, accusing the police today of giving inconsistent accounts of the incident. The…
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar has called on the Inspector-General of Police to stop the harassment of lawyers who wanted to meet their clients. Its president Lim Chee Wee cited a lawyer’s claim about an officer making references to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to threaten her. He said Fadiah Nadwa Fikri claimed that when…
Don’t repeat mistake, DBKL told PETALING JAYA: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general S Arutchelvan called upon the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) not to demolish the houses in Ladang Bukit Jalil till the case is settled in court.This would ensure that the former estate residents do not suffer the same fate as the 2,000 villagers…