Journalist detained while covering protest, charged with “obstructing police”
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 26 January 2008, Malaysian police arrested a journalist while he was covering a protest in Kuala Lumpur, later charging him with “obstructing police duty”. The journalist, Syed Jaymal Zahiid of http://www.Malaysiakini.com , had been pressing the police for information about the arrests of protesters who had gathered at the iconic Twin Towers […]
Minority rights activists detained without trial; Internal Security Act being used to silence dissent, says SEAPA
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Malaysian authorities have invoked a draconian law allowing detention without trial on five leaders of a movement which organised a recent rally to express disaffection over the plight of the marginalised minority ethnic Indians in the country. Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan confirmed the arrest of P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan, […]
Police arrest 26 people attempting to present a petition to Parliament
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 11 December 2007, Malaysian police arrested 26 people, including a teenager, who were part of a civil society delegation sent to Parliament to object to the rushed manner of a proposed constitutional amendment to extend the tenure of the Election Commission chair. The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH), which is […]
Government orders media not to cover rally supporting lawsuit against British government
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Malaysian’s Internal Security Ministry has instructed the local press to refrain from reporting about a banned rally in the capital Kuala Lumpur on 25 November 2007, which is seeking the Queen of England’s help in a class-action suit against Her Majesty’s government. At least one newsroom received the order from a ministry official […]
Members of ruling political party assault photographer at opposition press conference
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A photographer from a local daily was allegedly assaulted by members of the dominant ruling political party, United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), while covering a press conference organised by an opposition Member of Parliament on 16 November 2007. Koh Chun Seng, 27, a photographer with the Chinese-language “Guangming Daily”, claimed he was attacked […]
Tamil daily’s photojournalist in coma after beating; colleague receives death threat for critical reporting
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Two journalists from a local Tamil daily, “Malaysia Nanban”, have recently been the victims of either physical violence or death threats, allegedly over their work, reports local media watchdog Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ). Photojournalist R. Raman, 52, who is better known by his pen name “R. Kalaramu”, is in a coma due […]
Thousands in rare rally call for electoral reforms; with mainstream media bound, Internet tells their stories
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Thousands of Malaysians overcame barriers both natural and man-made to join a rare rally in capital city Kuala Lumpur on the afternoon of 10 November 2007, to petition to the Agong (Supreme Monarch), Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, calling for free and fair elections. Braving heavy rain, police roadblocks and riot police beatings, tear […]
Government tells media not to report on rally for electoral reforms
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Malaysian authorities have instructed the local media not to give coverage to a rally calling for free and fair elections, to be held on 10 November 2007 in the capital city Kuala Lumpur, reports the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), a SEAPA partner in Malaysia. [Editor’s note: the rally took place on 10 […]
Opposition activists risk prosecution for refusing to reveal sources of video behind judicial scandal
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Two opposition activists in Malaysia who made public a video that indicated possible interference in top judicial appointments risk prosecution for refusing to comply with an order to reveal their sources. On 4 October 2007, Sivarasa Rasiah and Sim Tze Yin of the People’s Justice Party were served an order by the Anti-Corruption […]
Authorities violently shut down road show on electoral reform, restrict media coverage of the incident
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 8 September 2007, in the northeastern state of Terengganu, Malaysian police disrupted a road show calling for electoral reform in the country, resulting in a riot that saw two people seriously wounded after they were shot by a police officer. The police rejected the permit application for the outdoor talk one day […]
Newspaper suspended for one month for “offending” religious sensibilities
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 21 August 2007, the Tamil daily “Makkal Osai” (The People’s Voice) published a quote, “Heaven awaits those who repent”, accompanied with a picture of Jesus Christ clutching what appeared to be a can of beer and a cigarette. The paper had put up the item for its regular “Thought for the Day” […]
Newspaper terminates critical columns, reducing plurality in mainstream media
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A major newspaper associated with the ruling party in Malaysia has terminated two critical columns, further reducing the plurality of voices in the mainstream media, which largely mirrors the government position. The “New Straits Times” (NST), the English daily with the second-largest distribution in the country, has pulled Zainah Anwar and Amir Muhammad’s […]
Authorities to act against student over “seditious” national anthem rap on YouTube; police interrogate blogger’s wife
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Malaysian authorities are looking to come down hard on a student in Taiwan who has allegedly insulted nationalistic and Islamic sensibilities in a music video uploaded on the popular video-sharing website YouTube. In the clip, the student, going by the name “Namewee”, turned the Malaysian national anthem, “Negaraku” (My Country), into an angst-ridden […]
Government threatens use of draconian laws on bloggers in apparent pre-election crackdown
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Malaysian government has threatened to invoke draconian laws against bloggers in what appears to be a move to limit information and free expression ahead of the general election expected in early 2008. On 24 July 2007, de-facto Law Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz warned that bloggers who write about “sensitive issues” will be […]
Police interrogate popular internet journalist as bloggers increasingly targeted by government
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 25 July 2007 CPJ press release: Police in Malaysia interrogate popular Internet journalist New York, July 25, 2007 – The Committee to Protect Journalists expresses its grave concern about today’s police interrogation of popular Internet-based writer Raja Petra Kamarudin, founder of the Malaysia Today news Web site. According to […]
Government bans media debate on constitution, law and religion
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Malaysian government has banned the mainstream media from reporting on an explosive issue concerning the very nature of the country’s constitution that points to the problematic relationship between law and religion. Web-based daily “Malaysiakini” reports that following the Internal Security Ministry’s directive on 19 July 2007, several journalists and editors contacted have […]