Malaysia

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: MALAYSIAN SEDITION ACT: A TOOL TO ABUSE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION An ARTICLE 19 analysis has deemed that the Malaysian Sedition Act 1948, in active use by the authorities, is in serious breach of freedom of expression. A recent analysis by ARTICLE 19 of the […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN welcomes the release of journalist and filmmaker Hishamuddin Rais, who was freed on 4 June 2003 after the expiry of his two-year detention order. Rais was among six “Reformasi” (“Reform”) activists to be sentenced under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in June 2001. He was released from Kamunting […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 24 January 2003, RSF expressed its outrage over plans to evict Malaysia’s Internet news website Malaysiakini.com from its premises, just days after police raided the independent news outlet’s offices, apparently for publishing criticism of the government. RSF warned that the move once again threatened the country’s chief source of independent news. “Malaysiakini”‘s […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 21 January 2003 letter to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, CPJ expressed its outrage over the recent police raid on the offices of the online newspaper “Malaysiakini”, one of the few independent news outlets in Malaysia. Though police have not yet filed any charges against the publication, authorities said they are investigating […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 20 January 2003, RSF protested the police raid on the offices of the news website Malaysiakini.com, Malaysia’s principal source of independent news. The police seized about 20 computers and partially blocked access to the website after it published criticism of the government in the form of an anonymous letter. RSF called on […]

(TJA/IFEX) – The following is a 19 January 2003 letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which TJA is a member: January 19, 2003 H.E. Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr Mahathir Mohamad Pejabat Perdana Menteri Blok A Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan Putrajaya 62502 Putrajaya Malaysia. Phone: 603 […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a joint Amnesty International and ARTICLE 19 statement: Malaysia: End trial of human rights activist Irene Fernandez Amnesty International and ARTICLE 19 today jointly called on the Malaysian authorities to withdraw all charges against human rights activist Irene Fernandez and to repeal the “false news” provision under which she […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has written to Malaysia’s minister of home affairs, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, calling for the release of journalist Hishamuddin Rais who, along with five other prisoners of conscience, has been on hunger strike since 10 April 2002. “After a year of arbitrary detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA), this hunger strike movement […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to ASEAN Secretary-General Rodolfo Certeza Severino, Jr, RSF expressed its concern about the increase in censorship and intimidation against foreign publications in ASEAN member countries. “The integration and economic development of Southeast Asia, which your organisation promotes, also depends on the free circulation of information,” noted RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 21 January 2002 letter to Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, CPJ expressed deep concern that political pressure may have prompted the recent wave of resignations, suspensions, and lay-offs at “The Sun” newspaper. Local journalists have told CPJ that the radical retrenchment of the daily’s staff is part of an […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 3 January 2002 ARTICLE 19 press release followed by ARTICLE 19’s letter to Minister of Home Affairs Dato’ Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi: Malaysian Government Pressure on Sun Newspaper Undermines Press Freedom ARTICLE 19 has written to the Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs expressing concern about the interference by […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 13 June 2001 letter to Datuk Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik, president of the Malaysia Chinese Association (MCA), CPJ noted with concern the MCA’s recent acquisition of the Chinese-language dailies “Nanyang Siang Pau” and “China Press”. While CPJ does not normally take positions on media ownership issues, this particular acquisition is […]

(IPI/IFEX) – In a 6 March 2001 letter to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, IPI expressed its deep concern about the recent harassment of the independent online newspaper Malaysiakini.com. IPI is informed that, on 5 March, the Malaysian national news agency, Bernama, quoted Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as saying, “… these people [Malaysiakini] really behave like […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 7 September 2000 letter to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, CPJ expressed its dismay at the recent suspension of two Malaysian publications, the weekly news magazine “Eksklusif” and the monthly youth magazine “Wasilah”. In an interview yesterday with the online newspaper “Malaysiakini”, Home Ministry official Tengku Mahmood Tengku Ismail said “Eksklusif”‘s publication […]

The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: 50 Demonstrators Detained in Malaysia In letters sent today to the Malaysian Home Minister and Chair of the Human Rights Commission, ARTICLE 19 demanded action to secure the release of over 50 people currently detained in connection with a peaceful protest on Saturday 15 April. The event […]

**Updates IFEX alerts of 27 and 3 March, 21, 13, 12, 11 and 6 January 2000** (CPJ/IFEX) – In a 29 March 2000 letter to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, CPJ expressed its alarm at the effective banning of the independent bimonthly magazine “Detik”, whose publishing license has been cancelled by the Malaysian government. On 27 […]