Chow Kon Yeow: 曹观友

SUARA RAKYAT MALAYSIA

Address: 433A, Jalan 5/46, Gasing Indah, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor,
Malaysia.
Telephone: +6 03 7784 3525 Fax: +6 03
7784 3526
Email: suaram@suaram. net Web:
www.suaram.net

Urgent Appeal

17 June 2007

2 activists arrested for leafleting at demonstration in Johor Bahru

The Police arrested 2 activists from Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
Johor Bahru branch who were leafleting at a demonstration in front of
Menteri Besar’s residence, Johor Bahru this morning. The demonstration
was calling for MB’s attention and action on the rising crime rates in
Johor Bahru.

The two activists are Nyam Kee Han and See Siew Min.

They are currently being held at the IPD Johor Bahru (Selatan) police
station. The leaflet that they distributed calls for immediate setting up
of the Independent Police Complaint and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), as
recommended by the Royal Commission on police reform.

Suaram condemns strongly the arbitrary arrest of the activists. The
police of Johor Bahru is wasting public monies in intimidating activists
instead of doing their job of busting the crimes.

The Federal Constitution of Malaysia and international Human Rights law
enshrine freedom of assembly, the arbitrary arrests by police is clearly
an abuse of power and an intimidation to activists who tried to expose
the slack attitude of the police force in resolving crimes.

We call on the police to immediately and unconditionally release the 2
arrested activists.

Background

A group of Johor Bahru’s residents today on their own initiative
organized a demonstration in front of the residence of Johor Menteri
Besar. They call for the attention of the MB to take action to reduce the
crime rates in JB.

The two activists attended in support of the residents and at the same
time distributed a flyer calling for the setting up of the Independent
Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

When the demonstration almost ended, the police suddenly arrested the
two activists.

Action needed please state your protest against the arrest of the 2
activists via faxes or phone calls to the following:

ASP Nor Hashim : 0127235776
CID chief of IPD Johor Bahru (Selatan)

OCPD: ACP Safie bin Ismail
IPD Johor Bahru (Selatan)
Ibupejabat Polis Daerah Johor Bahru
Polis Diraja Malaysia
JKR No.489, Jalan Meldrum, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor
Tel: 07-2232222-27
Fax: 07-2246925

For more information, please contact Moon Hui, tel: 012 7209981.

Malaysia: AI Annual Report 2007
Tuesday, 22 May 2007

The year ended without the government fulfilling its pledge to establish an independent police complaints commission. At least 80 men accused of links to Islamist extremist groups were held without charge or trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Freedom of expression, association and assembly continued to be constrained by restrictive laws. People suspected of being irregular migrants or asylum-seekers were harassed and detained in harsh conditions pending deportation. Hundreds of people, mostly alleged irregular migrants, were imprisoned or caned after unfair trials. Death sentences continued to be passed and four executions were carried out.

Police reform

Non-governmental organizations continued to press the government to create an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC). In 2005 a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the police had recommended a wide range of reforms, including the establishment of an IPCMC by May 2006. Draft legislation to establish an IPCMC remained under consideration by the Attorney General at the end of the year. A range of other reform recommendations, including repeal or review of laws allowing for detention without trial or requiring police permits for public assemblies, were not implemented (more…)

Press Statement by DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Tanjong Chow Kon Yeow on Thursday, 17 May 2007.
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Foreign Minister should intervene and rescue Malaysian duo still stranded in Saudi Arabia
——————————————————————————————————–

It is regrettable that two Malaysian citizens are still being deprived of their human rights over a commercial dispute with a Saudi Arabian company.

The duo, Francis Ng Wai Kong and Victor Hoo Kim Swee are unable to return to Malaysia since January 2007 because their passports have been detained.

Worse still, they were ordered out of the Malaysian Consul-General office in Jeddah at midnight on 6 May 2007. Until now the Foreign Ministry has been keeping mum over this unfortunate incident.

The Malaysian government and Foreign Ministry should reclassify the case as a case of violation of the human rights of Malaysians who have their freedom of movement restricted and prevented from going back to their home country.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar should direct the Malaysian Consul-General in Jeddah, Syed Bakri Syed Abdul Rahman to treat the case as a violation of the human rights of two Malaysians and do everything possible to secure their early return to Malaysia.

As the problem involved a dispute between a Saudi Arabia company and two Malaysian companies, Syarikat Season Growth and Syarikat Akebono, it should be resolved according to commercial and contract laws of that country.

The Saudi Arabian company should seek remedy in a commercial and civil court and they cannot take laws into their own hands by illegally restricting the free movement of the two Malaysians who are merely servants and agents of the Malaysian companies.

It is regrettable that the Malaysian Consul General in Jeddah, Syed Bakri Syed Abdul Rahman had taken upon himself to be a judge in this case by ordering the Malaysian companies to give in to the full demand of the Saudi Arabian company.

It is pertinent for the Malaysian government and Foreign Minister to secure the return of Francis Ng and Victor Hoo soonest as they are now considered overstayers and may be detained as illegal immigrants in this foreign land.

On 17 April 2007 I tried to move an emergency motion to discuss the plight of two Malaysians who were stuck in Saudi Arabia because of a trade dispute.

The Speaker rejected the motion on the ground that the Foreign Ministry was looking into the matter.

Today Vincent Hoo, the father of one of the victims, forwarded to me an e-mail message he received from the duo, Francis Ng and Victor Hoo.

Both of them have been chased out of the Consulate in Jeddah in the middle of the night on 5 May 2007.

They have no documents to identify themselves; their passports were withheld by the other party. They were driven around by a taxi in search of a hotel to put up the night.

They went to five hotels, but no one dare to take them in because they have no identity papers.

Finally they were dumped by the taxi driver near an overhead bridge at about 3.00 in the morning.

They were forced to spend the night under the bridge with other illegal immigrants.

Finally in the morning they found their way to their lawyer’s office.

I am asking why these two Malaysians are being treated this way by the Jeddah Consulate. I have seen Ahmad Shabery Cheek, the parliamentary secretary of the Foreign Ministry yesterday and today. He had no answer for me and instead asked me to write to the Minister himself.

Do Malaysians still care?

theSun carried a report today that an exhibition on world religions, universal peace and global peace in Kuala Lumpur was called off as one off the displays was deemed sensitive.

The exhibition organized by Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF) which had been displayed at the UN headquarters was supposed to take place on the sidelines of the four-day meeting hosted by the think-tank Institute Strategic and International Studies (ISIS).

KAF representative Peter Schier said ISIS asked them to scrap the exhibition.

He said that he was told the exhibition was “sensitive” and that ISIS feared it would be criticized by radical Muslims or the government for allowing the exhibition.

Peter Schier said, “I explained that this is not something sensitive but was to overcome prejudices and promote peace within different cultures and religions.”

In response, ISIS director-general Datuk Mohd Jawhar Hassan said: “We must be very sensitive to the environment we are operating in. We don’t want to take the risk of embarrassing incidents happening at an international event,” (He was referring to an Article 11 forum which ended abruptly after a demonstration in Penang last month).

I blogged, after the Article 11 demonstration, that our space for discussion had been hijacked by radicals. But this time, ISIS is hijacking this space by default because of their fear of a radical demonstration.

This time, even a quasi-government organization is facing a seized mentality and it would make radicals most happy.

For KAF, this is not the first time they are running into troubles. Earlier last month, a cultural and religious awareness programme they initiated in Penang’s Streets of Harmony was abruptly called off by the State Education Department.

The Department said the programme was called off because the organizer did not seek the prior approval of the Department.

I questioned the decision and said the programme was called off because of objections from Islamists.

The State Education Department did not respond. I then requested Phee Boon Poh, DAP Assemblyman for Sungei Puyu to raise the matter in the Penang State Legislative Assembly late last month.

The Umno Assemblyman for Permatang Berangan Shabudin bin Yahaya, who happens to be the President of the Penang State Islamic Council, interjected to say that the contents of the integration programme included materials that are sensitive and unacceptable to Muslims.

That is the reason why another KAF programme is stopped. Again this is a victory for those who see universal values and inter-religious dialogue as a threat to the purity of their religion.

In a functioning democracy, it is the right of the people to discuss any issue of importance.

A residents’ association can discuss about a proposed incinerator project in their neighbourhood. Single mothers could meet to talk about career opportunities and maybe better facilities for childcare. In fact, it is impossible to list out what could be taken up as an issue in our country. This is the goodness of democracy.

The mob of protesters who disrupted a forum in Penang on 14 May is the latest example that our democratic space to discuss issues affecting us is being hijacked.

Most frightening is the fact that these “hijackers” are motivated by a seized mentality. Any mention about Islam, Malay or Bumiputera rights, or Chin Peng would drive some into frenzied mood.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz condemned the protest against the forum and described it as “Stupid act!”

Nazri should know better as Parliament is a venue where such “Stupid act!” is played out.

The classic act was one by MP for Jerai who screamed: “This is an Islamic country. If you don’t like it, you can get out” in response to DAP’s assertion that Malaysia is a secular state.

The recent controversy over the documentary film “Lelaki Komunis Terakhir” is another example.

Protesters have not even watched the film but their pressures are strong enough to get the permit to screen the film revoked although the Censorship Board had approved it without cut.

The Inter-Faith Commission, Article 121(1A). NEP, 30% Bumiputera equity, national language are some jargons that can put hijackers into action.

Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang is concerned that one day, DAP MPs would have to abandon their speeches when these hijackers stage protests outside Parliament.

Finally, the protest had marred the image of Malaysia as it happened on the eve of a five-day Meeting of International Experts on Human Rights in Islam in Kuala Lumpur.

WE call on the government to ensure Malaysians that their human rights to associate and freedom of expression are not compromised.

At 9.59 this morning, I received a call alerting me that some “fundamentalists” were protesting against the Public Forum on the Federal Constitution at the Cititel Hotel, Penang.

The forum is organised by a group of NGO calling themselves “Article 11″ together with Aliran.This was the third stop of their national roadshow to bring the message “Protection For All” under Article 11 of the Federal Constitution to the people.

As I was about to leave for Sunday worship, I called Chong Eng to see whether she was going to support the forum.

She said she could only be there after 10.30am. I was later informed by her that she was too late as the police had dispersed the gathering when she arrived at the hotel.

The police said they were unable to ensure the safety of the participants as the protesters had outnumbered them. By 10.45am, the meeting was stopped.

The presence of Zaid Ibrahim, UMNO MP for Kota Baru invoked much displeasure among the protesters, believed to be UMNO and PAS members.

Finally, this has come and I can feel it will come sooner or latter.

The Star reported this morning about a five-day Meeting of International Experts on Human Rights in Islam will be held in Kuala Lumpur. Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said the meeting would serve as a platform to examine Islamic principles of human rights and to help inculcate greater tolerance and peaceful resolution of conflicts between Muslims and non-Muslims.

If an international meeting could be held to discuss such important issues, why can’t local citizens from various ethnic and religious groups get together to discuss their constitutional rights.