SIS warns Jakim against claiming to be voice of God

Malaysia’s religious authorities risk the sin of “shirik” (idolatry) after seemingly speaking for God in judging an online video deemed offensive to Islam, Muslim women’s group Sisters in Islam (SIS) warned yesterday.

On Friday, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) adjudged a video made by dog trainer Maznah Mohd Yusof, which shows her walking and bathing her dogs, to be an insult to Islam and resulted in the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) pursuing investigations against her.

“What differentiates Jakim’s opinion from that of the lay person is that Jakim’s views are backed up by enforcement powers of the state,” SIS programme manager Suri Kempe told The Malay Mail Online via email yesterday.

“Anybody who questions and challenges the injustice of these views and actions is accused of being against Islam and God,” she said. “This is tantamount to claiming to be the embodiment of God, and Jakim should be very careful as it could be a form of shirik.”

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Putrajaya misused three laws in GE13, says Forum Asia

The panelists at the Asian Solidarity and Human Rights forum held in Kuala Lumpur today.





Putrajaya had misused three laws, the Sedition Act 1948, Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, during the May 5 general election for selective prosecution and punishment, according to regional human rights group Forum Asia.

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum Asia) said in its preliminary report that the laws were technical and hard to understand for the purpose of prosecution and punishment.

"We raised our concerns against these problematic laws which gives the power to the government to carry out selective prosecution and punishment, towards certain individuals.

"The government's promise to carry out reforms runs contrary to what they are doing," Forum Asia representative Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.


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Haul up Utusan over ‘false news’, DAP demands

Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia must be punished for disseminating “false news” that the police planned to use the Sedition Act over the Seri Pristana fiasco, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng demanded today.

According to the Bagan MP, this was a new low even for the newspaper that “openly called for the bloody May 13 racial riots that killed thousands of innocent Malaysians to be celebrated as a holy day.”

“Nothing is beyond Utusan Malaysia,” Lim (picture) said in a statement.

“[The] public had had enough of lies spread by Utusan Malaysia to foment fear and hate amongst Malaysia’s multi-religious society.”

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KL cops begin probe on sex bloggers

City police have opened up their investigation on sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee.

City CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ku Chin Wah said that the two bloggers, who stirred up another controversy with a buka puasa greeting with a picture of them eating bak kut teh on their Facebook page, were being investigated under Section 298 of the Penal Code as well as the Sedition Act.

SAC Ku said attempts to contact the bloggers were unsuccessful, as both were not answering the phones when contacted.

"Both of them have yet to appear for the investigation. But I was informed they have contacted the Investigating Officer in Negri Sembilan.

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Sex bloggers may face sedition charge

Alvin Tan Jye Yee and Vivian Lee leaving Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad in Kuala Lumpur late at night after having their statement recorded at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission office in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

Police advise couple to surrender themselves

KUALA LUMPUR: THE controversial sex blogger and his Singaporean girlfriend who had incurred the wrath of Malaysians over their Facebook posting could also be investigated under the Sedition Act 1948.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said Alvin Tan Jye Yee and his Singaporean girlfriend, Vivian Lee, could be charged with sedition or other offences.

"The couple could face action under the Sedition Act 1948.

"However, we need to look into the facts of the case and the intention of the couple when they committed the offence," he said after he opened a three-day seminar on cyber crime enforcement and legislation at Bandar Baru Bangi near here yesterday.

The couple had posted a picture of them eating bak kut teh with the caption "Selamat berbuka puasa" on Facebook.

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Jakim looking out for posts insulting Islam

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom (right) and Islamic Development Department director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha after the opening of a meeting of district religious administrative officers from across the country in Kota Baru yesterday.


The Islamic Development Department is working closely with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, the Home Ministry and Radio Televisyen Malaysia to monitor social media, including blogs and Facebook, for postings that insult Islam.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said the team effort was to identify irresponsible parties out to disparage Islam and also disrupt the country's peace and harmony.

He pointed out that the insults hurled against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and more recently, Prophet Muhammad, as acts that could not be tolerated.

"I see this as some sort of a plan by irresponsible parties and it is the duty of the government, including religious officers, to counter them.

"These parties are unhappy with the present situation where Muslims and non-Muslims live in harmony, so, they try to create tension so that things turn for the worse in this country," he said after opening a meeting of district religious administrative officers from across the country here, yesterday.

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SUARAM seeks UK’s help to stop Pakatan crackdown

Among others, SUARAM said Cameron should urge Najib to proceed with his earlier resolve to abolish the Sedition Act 1948.

Local rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) sought intervention today from the United Kingdom with a letter urging Prime Minister David Cameron to help stop Malaysia’s crackdown on the opposition.

The letter, sent today to Cameron’s address at 10 Downing Street, asked the British PM to appeal to his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Barisan Nasional-led (BN) government to stop the ongoing security dragnet that against Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders and their supporters.

SUARAM insisted to Cameron that those hauled in so far to face police action had not violated any criminal law in their attendance or organisation of mass rallies to protest electoral fraud.

“We call on the UK Government to show moral and political leadership to address Malaysia’s recent crackdown on Malaysian human rights activists and opposition politicians,” the group said.

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Two, who allegedly insulted the Prophet on Facebook, identified

The Communication and Multimedia Ministry has identified the two individuals who allegedly insulted Prophet Muhammad through Facebook on Friday.

Its minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Sunday they were registered as 'Calvin Gani' and 'Rakyat Anarki' in their respective Facebook accounts.

He said the cases had been submitted to the police for further investigation and action.

He stressed that the ministry viewed Internet abuse seriously, particularly the spread of defamation and sedition that could potentially arouse antagonism and uneasiness among the communities in the country.

"I wish to remind Internet users in the country that they will not escape the law even though their actions or statements in social websites such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs may have been made on a personal basis," he told reporters after a community function at Felda Neram Satu here.


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2 more Facebook users surrender

Former Ninth Royal Malay Regiment Association chairman Zainol Ahmad (fourth from right) with other members of the association at the Kubang Pasu district police station after lodging a police report yesterday.



NGOs call for stern action against offenders

KUALA LUMPUR: TWO more Facebook users who allegedly put up slanderous posts against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong surrendered at the Dang Wangi police headquarters yesterday.

City Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said a man, 32, and woman, 30, turned themselves in about 3pm.

Their identities, however, have been withheld.

"We are looking for two other suspects in connection with the posts."

Earlier, at the handing over of duty of federal Criminal Investigation Department director at Bukit Aman yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar warned those involved to surrender before police began looking for them.

On Tuesday, a 32-year-old marketing manager from Ampang was detained for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah in a posting on her Facebook account.


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Uthayakumar to serve time

P. Uthayakumar threatened peace and national security, according to the deputy public prosecutor

He sent seditious letter against the govt to former British PM

KUALA LUMPUR: LAWYER P. Uthayakumar was sentenced to 21/2 years imprisonment by the Sessions Court, here, yesterday after being found guilty of writing a letter of a seditious nature against the government to former British prime minister Gordon Brown six years ago.

Judge Ahmad Zamzani Mohd Zain said the defence had failed to dent the prosecution's case.

He said the court viewed Uthayakumar's act as a serious offence under the Sedition Act 1948.

According to the amended charge, Uthayakumar wrote the seditious letter to Brown while the latter was serving as Britain's prime minister at No. 10 Downing Street in London.


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Explain why ex-judge and retired D-G still walking free, Kit Siang asks IGP

The DAP’s Lim Kit Siang called the national police chief’s bluff today, saying retired senior judge Datuk Mohd Noor Abdullah and former education director-general Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Arshad would have been arrested, questioned and charged with sedition if Bukit Aman were fully independent.

Highlighting the speedy arrest and prosecution of three opposition politicians and two other anti-government activists today, the Gelang Patah MP demanded Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar explain his men’s delay in acting against Mohamad Noor and Abdul Rahman who have been widely-panned for allegedly making racist and seditious remarks recently against the Chinese and Indian communities.

“Can IGP explain police double-standards in not enforcing the law against former Appeal Court judge and former Education Director-General despite their offences of sedition?” Lim (picture) asked in a statement

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Student activist Safwan refuses bail following sedition charge

An activist said Safwan (seated) was refusing to be released as a sign of protest against the BN administration

Student activist Muhammad Safwan Anang today refused to be released on a RM5,000 bail, choosing to be sent to prison after he was charged under the Sedition Act 1948.

His lawyer, Ariff Azam, said he was surprised at Safwan’s decision, saying that his client wanted to protest against the case in which he was charged this morning with uttering allegedly seditious words at a forum.

“My client Safwan said he’s not ready to come out despite being [bonded]... we are still trying to persuade him.


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Tian Chua, Tamrin, Haris rearrested in renewed crackdown

Politicians Tamrin Ghafar(middle), Chua Tian Chang (left) and political activist Haris Ibrahim (right) were re-arrested today, four days after a magistrate rejected a police application for their remand under the Sedition Act 1948 and the Penal Code.

At least one other student activist was also detained as police widened their crackdown against anti-Barisan Nasional (BN) and opposition activists which started last week.


Haris's lawyer Gobind Singh Deo said tonight that the "suspects" were being questioned at the Dang Wangi police station.

According to other reports on Twitter, student activist Muhammad Safwan Anang has also been detained by police.
"They are now in the Dang Wangi district police headquarters. They have been rearrested under the Sedition Act.

"We don't really know much about the situation and we are going there now," Gobind told The Star Online after Haris and Tamrin had been detained. Speaking to The Malaysian Insider later Gobind said: "The police have obtained a warrant of arrest so now they are arrested. We are still short of details at the moment but we believe they are arrested for sedition. Pursuant to the warrant they should be brought to court as soon as possible which is tomorrow morning.

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Trio detained for making seditious remarks

The son of former deputy Prime Minister Tun Ghafar Baba is the latest arrest made by police for allegedly making seditious remarks during a forum on May 13 making it three arrest so far.

Tamrin Ghafar was arrested in Bangsar during lunch time and taken to Jinjang Utara police station to have his statement recorded.

Prior to that, police made a move on Parti Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua and political activist Haris Ibrahim.

Tian Chua was detained at Low Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang while Haris in Segambut.

All of them were detained under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948.

Copies of Opposition tabloids seized for violating permit

Some 3,000 copies of tabloids published by the Opposition parties have been seized in a nationwide operation for violating the printing permit.

Home Ministry officials have so far seized 1,408 copies of Suara Keadilan, 1,602 copies of Harakah and 70 copies of The Rocket.

The seizure was made on Wednesday and more copies are expected to be seized as it is an ongoing operation.

The Home Ministry in a statement said the seizure was made under Section 5 of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (Amendment) 2012 for breach of the print conditions.

One of the conditions is that the circulation of the publications is limited to (party) members only, added the statement.

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Crackdown begins!

Batu MP Chua Tian Chang, activist Haris Ibrahim and PAS’s Tamrin Ghafar were arrested for sedition today and brought to the Jinjang police station for questioning, according to reports.

It is understood the trio were detained separately in an apparent police crackdown today. This is the third police investigation into sedition since the May 5 general election.

“I was arrested, now in the police car, at Jalan Kuching, heading towards the Jinjang police station,” Tamrin, the son of former deputy prime minister Tun Ghafar Baba, told The Malaysian Insider in phone call at 2pm today.

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IGP: Zero tolerance for street crimes

Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar announcing his plans for a Crime Prevention Department at Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur yesterday. At right is his deputy, Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin.

Focus on public order, crime prevention and police integrity

KUALA LUMPUR: The nation's top cop yesterday outlined his plans for zero tolerance towards crime, especially street crimes, by announcing plans to create a department dedicated to crime prevention.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters at Bukit Aman yesterday that the Crime Prevention Department would be dedicated to reducing all types of crimes.

He declined to reveal who would be chosen to lead the department, saying he had to first seek approval from the Home Ministry.

The New Straits Times learnt that Commissioner Datuk Ayub Yaakob, who is the Crime Reduction National Key Result Areas (NKRA) Secretariat chairman, has been tipped to lead the proposed department.

Khalid said the three main challenges he currently faced were public order, crime prevention and integrity among the police.

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Police arrest 18 protestors at candlelight vigil for Adam Adli outside Jinjang police station

Police arrested 18, including four women, at a candlelight vigil for detained student activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim at the Jinjang police station here last night.

Media reports say some 1,000 had gathered outside the police station, which was under tight security in anticipation of a continued night vigil since Adam Adli (picture) was detained last Saturday.

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Adam Adli charged with uttering seditious words

Student activist Adam Adli Abd Halim has been charged with uttering seditious words at forum on May 13.

Earlier, police beefed up their presence at the court complex here where supporters of Adam Adli have gathered to give their moral support to him.

Some 40 policemen and 50 supporters have been at the court premises since 8am.

Nik Nazmi charged over Kelana Jaya rally, risks disqualification as lawmaker

Nik Nazmi (centre) speaks to the press after he was charged in court today.


PKR’s Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad was today charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012 with failing to give the police 10 days’ notice for the post-election rally at the Kelana Jaya stadium on May 8.

The PKR communications director pleaded not guilty when the charge under section 9 (1) of the Act was read out to him in the Sessions Court here.

If convicted under section 9(5) of the same Act, Nik Nazmi could be fined up to RM10,000, which could see the Seri Setia state assemblyman losing his seat.

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