Archive - 9 September 2002

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says the formation of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) proves that the country is in the forefront of protecting human rights. While the premier defends the need for certain laws such as the Internal Security Act, Suhakam is saying that maybe it is time for a judicial review.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) welcomes the Federal Court's ruling that the arrest and detention of the reformasi five under the Internal Security Act was done in bad faith. Its chairperson said the judgment was a 'lesson' for detaining authorities.

Seditious statements or posters and other unseemly behaviour will be a thing of the past in future elections if the proposed amendments to the Election Offences Act are incorporated, says de facto Law Minister Dr Rais Yatim who tabled the bill today. Still, he expects a hot debate in the Dewan Rakyat over it.

Suhakam is seeing red that the court has postponed four times the RM50mil suit filed by racial clash victims and families for its failure to launch a public inquiry into the Kampung Medan tragedy last year.

The recent controversy over conditions in Malaysian immigration detention centres emphasises the necessity for them to be checked by an independent body like Suhakam. To better achieve this, the human rights commission is now seeking the right to make spot visits without first giving notice to enforcement authorities.

Para penyokong ketua penaja Puteri Umno, Azalina Othman Said mendakwa akhbar milik Umno, Utusan Malaysia , bersikap berat sebelah, menyokong bekas exco Puteri Umno, Mastina Alias yang bakal mencabar Azalina bagi jawatan tertinggi pergerakan itu November ini.

Malaysia's industrial output rose 6.9 percent in July from a year ago and rebounded 10.4 percent from June due to growth in the manufacturing, mining and electricity sectors, according to the Department of Statistics

The Information Ministry has parked itself in a tiny corner of the press room in the Parliament building. Despite noble intentions, the move has failed to win journalists' approval.

The new Opposition Leader, Abdul Hadi Awang, criticises the US-British air raids on Iraq last week and says we can't fight violence with violence. His view is in agreement with that of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Pengarang agung Pramoedya Ananta Toer telah dianggap termakan propaganda pihak atasan, apabila beliau menyifatkan "sastera Malaysia lebih terbuka" ketika diwawancara oleh sebuah media perdana minggu lalu. Penulis Fathi Aris Omar menganalisa sebab musabab mengapa Pramoedya berpendirian sedemikian.

Clueless public relations departments might not know this, but part of their job is to help journalists do their job. This function is all the more vital where it concerns government policy. Yet this appears lost on many of our local ministries' Jabatan Perhubungan Awam.

While the authorities are not being blase about the recurring haze, a pattern of bribery, corruption and government inaction still prevails, and logging firms responsible for the massive land clearing that resulted in the haze are let off the hook.

A Filipina girl at the center of a row between Manila and Kuala Lumpur was sexually abused even before her alleged rape recently at a Malaysian detention center, according to a Philippine official. Meanwhile, a Malaysian lawyer is likely to be appointed to represent the girl.