Prime minister criticises western media
(RSF/IFEX) – In a 22 June 1999 letter sent to Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad, RSF protested his statements against Western media which, he said, “should be held responsible for their misreporting.” RSF noted that it “has known for a long time the meaning of press ‘responsibility’, according to the Malaysian authorities: press reports have to […]
Hearing date set for Canadian journalist
(CJFE/IFEX) – On 17 May 1999, the Malaysian Court of Appeals began hearing the appeal of the convictions against Canadian journalist Murray Hiebert. The judges hearing the case are Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Lamin Yunus, Datuk Ahmad Rairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and Denis Ong. Hiebert’s bail has been set at RM250,000 (approx. US$65,790). […]
Continued lack of progress towards press freedom
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the continuing lack of press freedom in Malaysia. According to RSF’s information, on 3 May 1999, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi declared that “press freedom must have limits” and that “unlimited freedom… is difficult as it will give rise to problems which will affect everyone.” He was also quoted […]
Academic dismissed
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is an HRW press release: For Immediate release March 2, 1999 For more information: Joseph Saunders, 212-216-1207 Human Rights Watch urges inquiry into dismissal of Malaysian academic (New York, March 2)–Human Rights Watch today called on the Malaysian government to launch an independent investigation into the dismissal last week of Professor […]
Writer and academic freed
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC has received confirmation that writer and academic Munawar Ahmad Anees was released on 18 January 1999, after serving four months of his six-month sentence. Anees was sentenced to six months in prison on 19 September 1998 for alleged homosexual relations with the former deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim. It is […]
Government crackdowns on local and foreign media
(RSF/IFEX) – In a 24 September 1998 letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad, RSF expressed concern about the government’s recent criticism and censorship of foreign journalists, and its continued pressure on local journalists. According to RSF, several members of the government – including the Prime Minister – have made statements criticising local and foreign […]
Information Minister announces plans to restrict foreign journalists
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply disturbed by Information Minister Mohamed Rahmat’ s announcement on 9 August 1998 that he plans to impose new rules and restrictions that would allow the government to more closely monitor the movements of foreign journalists in the country. Foreign journalists working in Malaysia are already required to register with the […]
Deputy Information Minister threatens media
(RSF/IFEX) – According to RSF, on 27 July 1998, in a news report published in the “Sun” newspaper, Deputy Information Minister Suleiman Mohamad threatened to jail members of the local media without trial and to black out foreign media which he believed were undermining the country’s leadership. “If the media indulges in activities that threaten […]
CPJ protests Malaysian editor’s resignation
(CPJ/IFEX) – According to CPJ, Johan Jaafar, the group editor-in-chief of Malaysia’s most influential publishing company has resigned under political pressure from the ruling party. Jaafar, who oversees the leading Malay-language daily newspaper “Utusan Malaysia”, was pressured to resign his post by the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the party headed by Prime Minister […]
Canadian journalist deprived of passport pending an appeal of conviction for contempt of court
(RSF/IFEX) – On 3 October 1997, Murray Hiebert, a Canadian correspondent for the Hong Kong-based “Far Eastern Economic Review”, had his request for the return of his passport refused pending an appeal of his conviction for contempt of court. **Updates IFEX alert dated 5 September 1997** Since being found guilty on 30 May, Hiebert has […]
Continued concern over trial of human rights worker Irene Fernandez
**Updates IFEX alert dated 22 March 1996** On 13 June 1996, as the first stage of the trial of human rights worker Irene Fernandez came to a close, Human Rights Watch/Asia released the following comments. Fernandez was arrested and formally charged on 18 March 1996 for “false reporting” for her organization’s reports of abuses against […]
Journalists Yusaini Ali and Saniboey Mohd Ismail detained
Two journalists have been arrested by police on 30 March 1995, apparently as a result of an article they wrote in the newspaper “Harian Metro”. Johor police detained Yusaini Ali and Saniboey Mohd Ismail at their office. They are apparently being held under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) regarding a story on the kidnapping of […]