SUARAM – Suara Rakyat Malaysia – Working for Human Rights

Featured

SUARAM Annual Human Rights Report 2018

Human Rights Must be the Foundation of Malaysia’s Reform

Digital copy of SUARAM Annual Human Rights Report will be available for download HERE until 31 July 2019.

Missed our launch? Tune in to our recording at Youtube!

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) Annual Human Rights Report 2018 aims to outline the situation pertaining to human rights in Malaysia for the year 2018. The human rights discourse has evolved drastically following the 14th General Election. However, the first change in administration in Malaysia does not mean an end to the culture of impunity that characterize the human rights violations in Malaysia. Even under the new administration, crucial reforms to remedy the ongoing human rights violations have been slow and met with substantial opposition.

SUARAM 30 YEARS DEFENDING HUMAN RIGHTS IN MALAYSIA

Speech by Kua Kia Soong at the 30^th Anniversary function of SUARAM, 4 Dec 2019

SUARAM was born under the shadow of the ISA. Detention-without-trial has been the favourite tool of repression used by the Malaysian state to arrest and detain persons indefinitely without trial ever since its legislation in 1960. Under the rule of Prime Minister Mahathir from 1981, authoritarian measures have included detention without trial, restrictions on the mass media, the assault on the judiciary in 1988, and the centralization of power in the Executive. Operation Lalang in October 1987 produced an unprecedented coalition of democratic forces that emerged to fight for the release of the detainees. It also ignited a new effort among families of the detainees and their support group to provide support for the detainees as well as to campaign for their release. The comradeship among the families and their supporters among the NGOs was crucial in sustaining the anti-ISA campaign. The legacy of this support group and its working method provided the motivating force for the formation of SUARAM in 1989.

CHIN PENG’S ASHES AND HEIL HITLER SALUTES

Press statement by Kua Kia Soong, SUARAM Adviser 28 Nov 2019

One would have thought that the return of Chin Peng’s ashes to his homeland would have led to a sigh of relief that there is finally closure to our turbulent anti-colonial history and perhaps some reflection leading to reconciliation for all who have suffered tragically during the “troubles”. Instead, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Huzir Mohamed has said that the Police are investigating the group who had reportedly brought in the remains of former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) secretary-general Chin Peng from Thailand to Malaysia. Huzir said ongoing investigations are being carried out to determine the exact method used to bring in Chin Peng’s ashes that were later scattered in Perak. The incident is being investigated under Section 504 and 505b of the Penal Code (dealing with insults intended to provoke a breach of peace and statements likely to cause public fear), as well as Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communications Act which deals with improper use of network facilities.

DUBIOUS CRITERIA IN UEC RECOGNITION

Press statement by Kua Kia Soong, SUARAM Adviser 27 Nov 2019

There seems to be no end to the political farce over the recognition of the UEC. In his parliamentary reply yesterday, Education Minister Maszlee Malik said that the task force on the UEC recognition had consulted 17 individuals, 27 NGOs, five political parties, 12 government agencies as well as 14 public and private higher education institutions to get their views on the UEC recognition as a pre-requisite to enter public universities.

Ayob Khan is Misleading the Nation on SOSMA

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) is appalled by Ayob Khan’s attempt to mislead the nation on the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) in his sharing during ‘Rakyat Malaysia Terlibat Militan’^[1] reported on 21 November 2019. The concerns raised by Ayob Khan is misleading as it attempts to portray Malaysia as a nation that has no criminal justice system that can address the threat of terrorism if SOSMA was to be abolished.

Halt Imminent Execution of Abd Helmi bin Ab Halim in Singapore

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) is appalled by yet another imminent execution of Abd Helmi bin Ab Halim in Singapore.

The imposition of the death penalty for drug crimes is and continue to be a violation of international law and are often described as unlawful killing. With the majority of the countries being considered an abolitionist state or de facto abolitionist, the application of death penalty in the modern day is highly restrictive and should only be applied to the most serious crimes which refer to cases of intentional killings. The use of the death penalty for drug crimes has long since been rejected by the international community that not only includes human rights organizations but also the International Narcotics Control Board.