Malaysia

(SEAPA/IFEX) – SEAPA is protesting the recent arrest and detention of six peaceful demonstrators during the gathering of Southeast Asian leaders in Kuala Lumpur. Such actions are a blatant violation of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly rights, which are both enshrined within the Malaysian Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), […]

(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ), SEAPA’s local partner in Malaysia, has expressed concern that prominent dissident Anwar Ibrahim’s recent lawsuit award could undermine efforts to rationalise libel and defamation awards and endanger freedom of expression in the country. On 18 August 2005, the High Court awarded Anwar damages worth RM4.5 million (approx. […]

(SEAPA/IFEX) – Attacks on Malaysian Internet journalists and bloggers show no sign of decreasing despite the perceived positive attitude towards the media adopted by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Abdullah Ahmad recently called on the government and its agencies to respect criticism from the media and to accept such criticism as feedback […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF wrote to Malaysia’s Internal Security Ministry on 15 July 2005 saying its decision to maintain an import ban on all copies of the “Epoch Times” newspaper on diplomatic grounds was a serious press freedom violation. The Internal Security Ministry said on 7 July it would continue to block all copies of the […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: (IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: Malaysia silences free press The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply concerned by the actions of the Malaysian National Security Bureau, which has banned several editions and halted distribution of the popular Chinese-language Epoch Times newspaper […]

(SEAPA/IFEX) – SEAPA has expressed grave concern over a perceived trend of official harassment being waged against Malaysian bloggers. Citing news reports that yet another blogger was “cordially” questioned by Malaysian police recently, SEAPA said Kuala Lumpur’s policing of the Internet is reaching a critical stage that needs to be recognised and confronted by rights […]

(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 7 March 2005, a reporter for TV3, a privately-owned Malaysian broadcaster, was questioned by police over a story that exposed environmental issues in the northern state of Kedah. The local English-language daily, the “Malay Mail”, reported on 9 March that Fazli Ahmad, 31, was questioned by four police officers from the Kubang […]

(SEAPA/IFEX) – SEAPA has expressed renewed concern over the continuing investigation of Malaysian blogger Jeff Ooi, saying the case has adverse implications for the Internet and free speech in Malaysia. SEAPA, citing a report from the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) in Kuala Lumpur, said Ooi was questioned by police for two hours on 28 […]

(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Science University of Malaysia (USM) has for the second time investigated Ali Bukhari Amir, a senior communications major at the school, for his critical articles on the university. The focus of the investigation has now shifted to the student’s website and his role in founding a writers’ association. Meanwhile, the university has […]

(SEAPA/IFEX) – The following is a SEAPA letter to Professor Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak and Associate Professor Dato’ Jamaluddin Mohaiadin, of the Science University of Malaysia: January 6, 2005 Professor Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak Vice Chancellor Office of the Vice Chancellor Science University of Malaysia 11800 USM Penang, Malaysia Tel: 604 657 3987 Fax: 604 […]

(SEAPA/IFEX) – SEAPA is gravely concerned by reports that the Malaysian government is stepping up its censorship of the Internet. On 13 December 2004, two leading Malay-language dailies, “Berita Harian” and “Harian Metro”, quoted Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak as saying that the government will investigate the news/opinion website “Malaysia-Today”, for conducting an open […]

(SEAPA/IFEX) – SEAPA is gravely concerned by the government’s stated intent to use the Internal Security Act (ISA) and Sedition Act to potentially control the flow of information and opinion in Malaysia-based Internet operations. On 4 October 2004, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was quoted by a local daily, the “New Straits Times”, as saying […]

(RSF/IFEX) – The internal security minister has threatened to imprison Jeff Ooi, manager of the weblog Screenshots (http://www.jeffooi.com), after a message was posted to Ooi’s weblog insulting Islam Hadhari, a religious practice promoted by the government. RSF condemned the intimidating remarks and called on Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi to see that no legal action […]

(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 24 June 2004, Burmese journalist Sein Mar was released from a Malaysian prison into the custody of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), according to the Center for Independent Journalists (CIJ) in Malaysia. Lawyers and the media only learned of Sein Mar’s release on 28 June when she did not […]

(IFEX) – The following is a statement issued at the 11th General Meeting of the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) in Baku, Azerbaijan, 13-18 June 2004: We call on the Malaysian government to release Burmese journalist Sein Mar. She is being held in a Malaysian jail after being arrested at a demonstration outside the […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 4 June 2004, RSF and the Burma Media Association (BMA) issued a joint call for an investigation into the kidnapping of exiled Burmese journalist and pro-democracy activist Minn Kyaw in Malaysia. Kyaw was forced from his car on 1 June while en route to Kuala Lumpur airport to cover the arrival of […]