FreedomofExpressioninMalaysia2009

An Annual Review by

contents 4 Foreword

5 Malaysia’sMediaLandscape

6 TheCrisisinPerak

8 Policepartialityandfreedomofassembly

10 Racialisationofissuesvsethicalreporting

12 Threatsagainstonlinemediaandbloggers

14 Intoleranceofdiversity

16 Conclusion

18 TimelineofEvents

• The Perak Crisis• Right to Assembly• ISA and the release of Hindraf leaders• The “Allah” issue• Restrictions against discourse of Islam• Online censorship• Raja Petra Kamarudin• Restriction of campaigning at by-elections• Others

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RD Fourteendasyafterthefireworksushering2010,anumberofplacesofworshipwereattacked,onewithpaints,mostotherswith

firebombs.Noonewasinjured,butthiscameafterdaysofprotestbyMuslim-MalayoressuregroupsagainstthecourtrulingallowingtheCatholicstousetheword“Allah”intheirpublication.

Sectarianviolenceisrareinmulti-ethnicMalaysia,butwhentheStateandnon-Stateactorschampionthecauseofnarrowly-definedrightsandprivilegesforaspecificgroupovertherightsofallcitizens,thisfomentsfearandignorance,andencouragesintoleranceininteractionsbetweenandwithinethniccommunities.

Tostokethefire,thereisalsounprecendentedpartisanshipontheissueinacertainmedia-aworryingsubversionofthemedia’spotentialinpromotingpeaceandunderstandinginourmulti-ethnicsetting.

ThatisthemessagethatCentreforIndependentJournalism(CIJ)isconveyinginourfreedomofExpressioninMalaysia2009AnnualReview.TheReviewpresentedatrajectoryofhoweventswerere-interpretedtotensionlevel,withchallengersbeingremovedormarginalized,onceagain,throughlegalbutunlawfulmeans.

AswecriticallyrevisittheeventsdocumentedintheReview,CIJiscompelledtosoundawarningbellonthedangerofmessagesofpartisanshipbasedonethnicityandreligion.ThecurrentclimatemakesitallthemoreurgentforMalaysianstoreclaimtheirrighttofreedomofexpression,andtodemandtheirmediatoprovidesufficientandequalspacesformeaningfuldiscussion,notfomentcleavagesandsiegementality.

AswecommemoratetheWorldPressFreedomDayin2010,letusbeclearthatthefreedomtoexpressissynonymouswiththedesireforpeaceanddemocracy.

Masjaliza Hamzahon behalf of the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)

In2009,perceivedpoliticalcrisisandincreasingstrainbetweenvariousreligiousandethnicgroups,wereusedasexcusesforpoliticalleaderstoleavedemandsforpoliticalanddemocraticreforminabeyance.

Followingthe2008generalelection,thewinningbutbadlyshakenpartyaswellasotherethno-religiousgroupshaveusedforpoliticalmileagetheperceptionthatthespecialpositionofthe‘natives’enshrinedintheConstitutionhasbeenundermined.AnauthoritarianbrandofIslamhasalsobeenpropagatedbythestateandindividualsmorevocallysince2008.In2009,thesegroupshaveincreasedtheirvisibilitybyactivelycensuringandinvokingthethreatofviolenceagainstremarksdiscussingaffirmativeaction,themonarchyandIslam.TheircausewasaidedbytheMalaymediaownedbytheUnitedMalaysNationalOrganisation(UMNO)takinguptheirbattle-cry,fuelledbyroutinedepictionsoftheoppositionpactPakatanRakyat(Pakatan)asathreattothe‘Malayrace’.

Thus2009sawaggressiveethno-religiousexpressionbecomingthedominantthemeinthemedia,withintoleranceandcontemptcolouringdiscourse.ThiscontradictsthenewPrimeMinisterNajibRazak’svisionof“1Malaysia”,whichincludesasitsaimsafreermedia.SpeakingtojournalistsandeditorsthreedaysafterbecomingPrimeMinisterinApril2008,Najibsaidhewantedthemediato“holdthegovernmentandpublicofficialsaccountable”andto“reportwithoutfearandfavour”,butthetoughlawsgoverningthemediahaveremainedunchanged.Further,editorshavespokenaboutthegovernment’splantoreviveMediaCouncillegislationontopoftheexistinglaws,andattheendoflastyear,theywerebeingtoldtoimplementadditionalandstricterpublishingguidelines.

Therehavebeenafewwelcomegesturesfordemocraticrights.SomedetaineesbeingheldunderthedreadedInternalSecurityAct1960(ISA)werefreedandthe2008amendmentstotheUniversitiesandUniversityCollegesAct1971,weregazettedinearly2009toreverseabanonstudents’freedomofassociationandexpression.Butthesepaleincomparisontotheongoingpunitiveactionsagainstgovernmentopponentsandcritics,andfallfarshortofacceptablestandards.

Thecontinualdwellingonandincitingofissuesofethnicityandreligiondirectlyaffectstheprospectoffreedomofexpression.Ethnicandreligioustensionsarebeingusedbythestatetorationalisethemaintenanceoftherestrictivelaws.Morepositively,theselawsarealsobeingseenbysomeasthetoolsthatfacilitatetension,duetorestrictingdiscourseanddebate,andprivilegingvoicesthatareincendiary.

Whiletheprospectofmeaningfulreformfordemocraticspaceslooksdismal,thiscomeswithapoliticalcosttothegovernment–ofalienatingprogressivevoiceswithinMalaysiaandjeopardisingthecountry’simageabroad.TheNajibadministrationwillhavetoevaluatetheserisks,forboththeshortandthelongterms,inatworstusing,andatleasttolerating,thismovetowardsgreaterauthoritarianisminthenameofreligiousintoleranceandracial‘unity’.

Malaysia’s Media Landscape: Race, religion stoking policy

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ThecountrywasrockedatthebeginningoftheyearwithacrisisinthestateofPerak.Thecrisisrevealedthatthegovernment

isbentonsecuringpoliticalinterestsandgettingaheadofitspoliticalrival,thePakatanoppositionalliance,regardlessofthecosttogoodgovernanceanddemocracy.

PerakwaswonbyPRinthe2008elections.However,inFebruary2009,electedmembersofPakatandefectedtobecome‘BarisanNasional(BN)-friendlyindependents’.Intheresultingpoliticalvacuum,theSultanofPerakAzlanShahactedbyappointinglawmakersfromtheBNandsackingtheexistingstategovernmentbeforeavoteofno-confidencecouldbeheldinthelegislature.Thiswasbothunpopularandlegallycontroversial.

Attheswearing-inofPerak’snewMenteriBesarinFebruary,policefiredteargasonanestimated3,000to5,000protesters,arrestingnine.Days

later,authorities,invokingthePrintingPressesandPublicationsAct1984,confiscatedthousandsofcopiesoftwooppositionnewspapers–SuaraKeadilan,byPartiKeadilanRakyat(PKR,orthePeople’sJusticeParty),andHarakah,publishedbytheIslamicpartyPAS.WebelievethisisbecauseoftheircoverageofthePerakcrisis.Thefollowingmonth,thetwonewspaperswereorderedtoshutdownforthreemonthsbythegovernment.Thiswasnotonlyshortlyafterthiscrisis,butimmediatelypriortothenewPrimeMinisterbeingsworninandthethreecrucialby-electionsinKedah,PerakandSarawak.Thebanwasliftedon3April,onNajib’sfirstdayinoffice.

However,thechairpersonoftheDemocraticActionParty(DAP)andMPforBukitGelugorKarpalSingh,waschargedundertheSeditionAct1948forquestioningthelegalityoftheSultan’sactions.Iffoundguilty,KarpalfacesuptothreeyearsinprisonorafineofuptoRM5,000(US$1,400)orboth.

Crisis in Perak

A protest by Pakatan supporters in February to demand for the dissolution of the Perak state assembly to pave way for fresh elections, after three lawmakers left the Pakatan government.

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ActionswerealsotakenagainstmembersofthepublicinPerakwhovoiceddismayoverthecrisis.PolicearrestedsixonlinecommentatorsforcriticisingtheSultanofPerak’sroleinthepowerstruggle.TheywerechargedunderSection233(1)oftheCommunicationsandMultimediaAct1998,andSection34ofthePenalCodefor“insulting”thePerakroyaltyinvariousblogs.ThebroadlywordedSection233(1)penalisesthe“improperuseoffacilitiesornetworkservice,etc.”andprovidesforajailtermofoneyearandafineofuptoRM50,000(approximatelyUS$13,500).Twobloggers,JedYoongandAhiruddinAttan,arealsobeinginvestigatedbythepoliceforcontentandcommentsontheirblogsaboutthecrisis.

InMay,whentheassemblyinPerakresumed,policeagainimplementedacrackdown.Inthespanofthreeweeks,policearrestedatotalof146people,includingoppositionlawmakers,writers,activistsandlawyers,stirringpublicconcernthatthiswouldbeareenactmentofthe1987OperasiLallangcrackdown.However,mostofthosearrestedwereeitherreleasedthesamedayorremandedforuptofourdays.

Writer,academicandchairpersonoftheWriters’AllianceforMediaIndependence(WAMI)WongChinHuatwasremandedforfourdayssimplybecausehetriedtorallypeopletowearblackontheassemblyday,tomournthedeathofdemocracyinPerak.PoliticalcolumnistforleadingonlinenewsserviceMalaysiakiniJoshHongandtheeditorofSuaraKeadilanLawTeckHaowereamongthosearrestedwhileattending

acandlelightvigilforWonginfrontofapolicestationinKualaLumpur.PASvicepresidentMatSabuwasarrestedbecausehecalledforagatheringatamosqueinPerakonthefirstdaythattheassemblywastomeetfollowingthecrisis.PolicealsoraidedtheDAPofficeontwoseparateoccasions,seizingelectronicequipment,publicationsandDVDsaboutthecrisis.

Nationally,thePerakcrisiswasframedbysomeofthemainstreammediaasamatteroftreasonagainstthemonarchyand–stretchingthelimitsofcredulity–asbeingethnicallymotivated,withthepossibilityofleadingtointer-ethnicclashes.ThoughtheformerMenteriBesarNizarJamaluddinisaMalayMuslim,hewasaccusedofrunningapuppetgovernmentfortheChinese-majorityDAPandofcommittingtreasonagainsttheSultanbyrefusingtoresignortoacceptthelegalityoftheSultan’sactions.SomeofthosewhowerechargedforcriticisingtheSultanonlinewere,followingtheirarrests,depictedasremorseful,implyingthatthemonarchyissacrosanct.Karpal,aswellasbeinginvestigated,wasalsotargetedatpublicralliesstagedbyUMNO,andaccusedofbeingsacrilegious.

Themainstreammediaalsospunthelegallydubioustake-overasbeing“tit-for-tat”againstPakatanforitsfailedattempttotakeovertheFederalgovernmentthroughthedefectionofBNparliamentariansin2008.Insuchspins,thepublichasbeentoldbythecontrolledpressthatthePerakcrisisisaparty-politicalone,notacrisisofdemocracyinwhichtheyarethetruestakeholders.

Then PKR information chief Tian Chua (right) and Suara Keadilan editor, Zunar (left) reveal that the party organ was confiscated by the authority. Pic courtesy of Malaysiakini

Attempt by activists lead by PKR Supreme Council member, Badrul Hisham Shaharin (left) to deliver a cake to the PM on the late Altantuya’s birthday, is met with police arrest, on the same day as the arrest of PAS vice president, Mat Sabu. Pic courtesy of Amin Iskandar.

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ThePerakcrisisisjustoneofseveralissuesthatdroveMalaysianstothestreets.Someoftheotherswere

ethnocentricintheircause,forwhichthepolicetookdelayed(ifany)actionagainstorganisersandparticipants,whileforassembliesthatweremoreethnicallydiversebutanti-BNintone,protestersweremetwithimmediaterepression.

Asmentionedintheprevioussection,thestatementbyKarpalpromptedUMNOtoorganiseapublicrallyagainsthim.Notonlyweretherenoarrestsamongthe200-strongcrowd,policealsobelatedlydeclaredthatithadnopermit.Whileapplaudingthelackofpoliceactioninthisinstance,CIJcallsfortheneedtoensurethatsimilarfreedomsareenjoyedbyall,notjustbythoseconnectedtothegovernment,orthoseopposingPakatan.

Incontrast,duringtheanti-ISArallyinearlyAugust2009attendedby5,000or15,000(dependingonwhichsource),policeusedteargas,watercannonsandroadblocks,andarrestedcloseto600people.Theanti-ISArallyalmosthadtofaceapro-ISArallyorganisedonthesamedaybyvariousNGOsundertheumbrellagroupPewaris.Attheeleventhhour–apparentlyafterrealisingtherewouldbeameagreturnout–Pewariscancelledtherallyanddecidedinsteadtohavearepresentativesubmitamemorandumtothepalace.Whiletheslewofarrestsandclampdownoperationsagainsttheanti-ISAprotesterswerehappening,thePewarisrepresentativewasallowedbypolicetosubmithismemorandum.

Oneoftheyear’smostnotoriousincidents,the‘cow-headprotest’exposesevenmoreglaringlypoliceinconsistencyincontrollingtherighttoassembly.TheprotestwassparkedwhenaHindutemplewastoberelocatedtoaMuslimpopulatedareainShahAlam,Selangor,amovelinkedtothePakatanstategovernment.On28August,someMuslimresidentsheldaprotest

rally,thehighlightofwhichwasthedisplayofarecently-decapitatedcow’shead,whichwaslaterkickedbysomeprotesters.Therewerenoarrestsatthetime,andtheHomeMinisterlatercameoutwithastatementsupportingtherally,causingpublicoutcry.On9September,thegovernmentchargedsixoftheprotestersundertheSeditionAct1948.

Therewasalsopublicoutcryasaresultofthegovernment’sharassmentofnewssiteMalaysiakini,whenvideosofthe‘cow-head’protestandtheMinister’spressconference,includinghisdefenseofthatprotest,werepostedonline.TheMalaysianCommunicationsandMultimediaCommission(MCMC)deemedthesevideosoffensiveandaskedMalaysiakinitotakethemdown,invokingtheCommunicationsandMultimediaAct1998.Malaysiakinirefused,andtheMCMCsentofficerstoquestionitsEditor-in-ChiefStevenGanandCEOPremeshChandran.

Policealsoarrested14BurmesenationalsfortakingpartinagatheringorganisedbytheSelangorstategovernmenttocelebratethe64thbirthdayofBurmeseactivistAungSanSuuKyiinJune.

OntheanniversarydayoftheformationofMalaysia,15indigenouspeoplefromtribesofPenan,Kayan,KenyahandIbanwerearrrestedinKuchingforsubmittingamemorandumofprotestagainsttheconstructionoftwodamsthatwillbeaffectingthepeopleintheareaofBaramandMurum.

Theinconsistencyofenforcementshowsthatfreedomofassemblyremainsabarelytoleratedright.AsthepoliceforceisnotobligedtobeaccountabletothepublicandisanswerableonlytotheHomeMinistry,thepublichavenotbeengivenanyexplanationfortheinconsistency.Asaconstitutionallyenshrinedright,freedomofassemblyshouldneverbesubjecttotheinterestsofthegovernmentorothergroups,butupheldforallequallyandimpartially.

Police partiality and freedom of assembly

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Police cracks down on the anti-ISA mass rally using water cannon (left) and tear gas (below). Picture courtesy of Merdeka Review.

The act of stamping on a cowhead by protesters who are against the relocation of a Hindu temple to a mostly Malay populated area, ignites public outcry and give the protest the name “cowhead”. Picture courtesy of The Malaysian Insider.

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Theroleofthemediaintheseeventswas,sadly,notthatofaneutralbystander.Someissuesweredeliberatelygiven

anethnicspinbysomemedia.Since2008,UMNO-owneddailyUtusanMalaysiahasbeenchampioning“Malayunity”,athinlydisguisedcallfor‘Malays’tobepoliticallyunitedunderUMNO.ApoliticalunityamongMalaysisarguedtobefundamentaltotheethnicgroup’scollectivesurvivalvis-a-visothercommunities,aswellastothecountry’ssecurity.Theideafollowsfromtheconceptof“KetuananMelayu”commonlyinterpretedasperpetualprivilegesforthe‘native’majorityethnicgroup.WithUMNO’selectoralsetbackandPakatan’sgain,PakatanpartnersPKRandPAShavebeenoftenportrayed–throughstatementsfromUMNOofficialsaswellastheMalay-basedgroupsmentionedearlier–asathreattothatunity,whileDAPwasrepresentedasathreatfromthesupposedlyeconomicallypowerful‘ethnicChinese’.

Theanti-ISAmassrallyinAugust,forexample,waspaintedbyUtusanasabetrayalbythoseMalayswhowereorganisingtherally(alongsideothers),aswellastheminority’sthreattothedominantrace.

EarlierinJuly,callstoinvestigatethesuspiciousdeathofoppositionpoliticalaideTeohBengHockwhilebeingheldovernightforquestioningattheMalaysianAnti-CorruptionCommission’s(MACC)officesweregivenanethnictwist–aboutthe‘Chinese’attemptingtounderminethe‘Malay’staffattheMACC.Itwas,apparently,irrelevantthatcallsforanimpartialinvestigationwerebeingmadefromabroadcross-sectionofMalaysiansociety.TheresponseofPakatan,however,wasalso

wanting.ThecoalitionbannedUtusanMalaysiaandtheBN-ownedNewStraitsTimesfromtheirevents.Theirreactionraisedthequestionofhowpressfreedomcanbepractisedwhenethicalstandardsarenotbeingupheld.PakatanstategovernmentsinSelangorandPenanghavesetuptheironlineandprintorgans,butmaintainedabanonthesetwodailiesandtheirreporters.

TheracialisationofreportingisnotlimitedtodemonisingtheFederal-levelopposition.Theunderlyingconceptof“KetuananMelayu”entailstheviewingofthe‘non-native’withsuspicion,thusthenewspapersdwellontheimmigrantoriginoftheOther.ThissuspicionofotherethnicgroupswasalsotheunderlyingissueinadvertentlyhighlightedbythemagazineAl-Islam,whichispublishedbytheUtusangroup.Themagazinesentareportertogoundercoveratachurchmassinorderto“expose”theallegedconversionofMuslims.Thereporterfoundoutthattheallegationwasnottrue,buthismethodofinvestigation–takingpartintheholycommunionunderdisguiseasaChristian,thenspittingouttheholywaferforphoto-taking–raisedprotests,particularlybyCatholics,onthereporter’lackofreligioussensitivity.

CriticsofthemagazinehavepointedoutthatthegovernmentwouldhaveunleashedthefullpowerofthelawifithadbeenanactthatviolatedthesanctityofIslam.CIJ,however,recognisesandemphasisesthattheonlywaytoencouragetoleranceisbyallowingallmediatooperateonanequalandfreefooting,andtorevokeallrepressivemedialaws.TheAl-Islamcasemerelydemonstratesthearbitrarynatureofthelawsandtheirenforcement.

Racialisation of issues vs ethical reporting

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From left to right: Lawyer Annou Xavier, Sundhagaran Stanley and Joachim Francis Xavier, from the Diocesan Migrant Ministry at the Dang Wangi Police station to follow up on a report they lodged against Al-Islam magazine (right) for publishing an article by a reporter deemed to have desecrated the Church. Pic courtesy of Sundhagaran Stanley.

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Threats against online media and bloggers

12Reporters Without Borders (RSF) campaign logo on cyber censorship

AsearlyintheyearasMarch,duringtheannualUMNOgeneralassembly,onlinemediaMalaysiakini,TheMalaysian

Insider,Siasah,MerdekaReviewandTheNutGraphwerebarredfromtheevent,supposedlyoverquestionsofethics.

Lessthanamonthlater,aphotographerandareporterfromMerdekaReviewwerebarredfromcoveringthePrimeMinister’sannouncementofhisCabinetlineup.TheChineseportalhadbeenpublishingcommentariescriticisingpro-Najibarticlesfromotherpublications.

InAugust,thegovernmentplantofurthercontroltheInternetthroughtheuseoffilterswasexposedbytheonlineandforeignmedia,triggeringapublicoutcry.AccordingtonewssiteTheMalaysianInsider,acallfortenderhadbeenissuedtocompaniestosubmitproposalstoassistthecommunicationsregulatorMCMCevaluatethefeasibilityofanInternetfilter.TheMinistryofInformation,CommunicationsandCultureexpectedthestudytobecompletedbyDecemberandadecisiontobemadebytheNationalSecurityCouncilheadedbythePrimeMinister.

Respondingtopublicopposition,InformationMinisterRaisYatimconfirmedthereportsbutdefendedthefilterasnecessaryforcurbingpornography.Nevertheless,justtwodayslater,thePrimeMinisterscrappedtheplan,reiteratingthepromiseofnoInternetcensorshipasoutlinedintheCommunicationsandMultimediaAct1998.

RaishassignaledthatheagreedwithconservativeswantinggreatercontroloftheInternet.HavingtheMCMCunderhisministry’spurview,hemadeitknownthattheMinistrywasactivelymonitoringandinvestigatingwebsites.ThePrimeMinisterhimself,inananswertoparliamentarians’questionsinJune,saidthatcivilservantswerebarredfromvisiting39sitesdeemedseditious,offensiveorobscene,addingthatseveralofthesiteswereunderinvestigation.

InNovember,bloggerBernardKhoowasquestionedbythepoliceoverthepostingofamodifiedimageofthepoliceemblem.Nochargewasfiledagainsthim.

Althoughitmayappearthattheonlinecontentisnotbeingsubjecttoregulationsasrigorousandaseffectiveastheirprintcounterpart,twocasesdemonstratethattheMalaysiangovernmentdoesnotlackanylegalmeanstoprosecuteonlinewriters.Thefirst,mentionedearlier,istheprosecutionagainstcommentatorsofthePerakcrisisunderSection233(1)oftheCommunicationsandMultimediaAct1998,whichisfoundtobesimilartotheSeditionActintermsofscopeandwording.

ThesecondcaseisacriminaldefamationsuitagainstprominentbloggerRajaPetraKamarudin.Hewaschargedin2008foranarticleandastatutorydeclarationcontainingallegationsagainstthePrimeMinister’swifeRosmahMansorandwasscheduledtogoontrialin2009.However,RajaPetrahasgoneintohiding,claimingthathewastippedoffthathewouldbearrestedundertheISAforthethirdtime.Criticshavequestionedwhycriminaldefamationwasused,insteadofcivildefamation,asRosmahisnotagovernmentofficial.

TwoarrestwarrantshavebeenissuedagainstRajaPetraafterhefailedtoturnupincourton23Apriland23May.Asthepolicewereunabletoservethewarrantofarrestonhim,theSessionsCourtgrantedhimadischargenotamountingtoanacquittalon11November–forhisseditioncase-andanotherdischargetwodayslater-forhiscriminaldefamationcase,butthepoliceefforttotrackhimdownisongoing.

Whilehecontinuestorunhiswebsiteinhiding,thegovernmentshouldmakegooditspromiseofnoInternetcensorshipbydroppingthecaseagainsthim.

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Muslims in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur protest against the High Court ruling on 31 December allowing Christians to use the word “Allah” for denoting God. Pic courtesy of The Malaysian Insider.

CriticismoftheMalaysiangovernmenthaslongbeenill-tolerated.TheMalaysianpublicmightoccasionally

findinthemainstreammediacriticismofthecivilservice,butnotdirectcriticismofthePrimeMinisteroftheday.Thisremainsunchangedunderthecurrentadministration.Havingassumedofficeatatimeofglobaleconomictrouble,weakenedsupportforUMNOand,morepersonally,whilebeinglinkedtothetrialofhisaideAbdulRazakBagindaformurder,Najibforwentthespellofopennessthathadmarkedthebeginningofhistwoimmediatepredecessors’ascenttopower.

ShortlyafterNajibassumedoffice,threeby-elections–seenastestsofhislegitimacy–wereheldsimultaneouslyinthestatesofPerak,KedahandSarawak.TherewasalsoatestforthenewPrimeMinister’sopenness,inwhichhedidnotfarewell.First,thepoliceissuedabanagainstanymentionofthecaseofamurderedMongolianwomanAltantuyaShaariibuuincampaignspeeches,asPakatanandbyvariousbloggershadconnectedthePrimeMinister

Intolerance of diversitytothecase.Thebanextendedtothemediaaswell.Malaysiakinireportedthattelevisionstationswereorderednottonameoneoftheaccused–thePrimeMinister’saideAbdulRazak–andtoignorehisbackgroundwhenreportingthejudgmentofthemurdertrialinApril.(AbdulRazakwaseventuallyacquitted.)

SuaraKeadilan,thePKRorgan,continuedtobeconfiscatedoritsdistributorsharassedalthoughNajibhadliftedthebanonthepaperwhenhebecamePrimeMinister.

InJuly,aTVhostwasdemotedtofieldreporterstatusaftersheaskedhergueststorateNajib’sperformanceontheoccasionofhis100thdayinoffice.

On25August,officialsfromthePublicationControlUnitoftheHomeMinistryseizedcopiesoftheinauguralissuesofcartoonmagazineGedungKartunfromthepublisher’sofficeinKualaLumpur.Accordingtoitseditor-in-chiefZulkifleeAnwarHaque,betterknownasZunar,morethan400copieswereseized.Authorities

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claimedZunarhadnotsecuredapermitforthepublication,asmandatedbythePrintingPressesandPublicationsAct1984.Observerssaid,however,thatZunar’spoliticalcartoonscriticisingthePrimeMinisterandhispoliciesweretherealreasonfortheconfiscation.

TheHomeMinistryconfiscatedMalaysianMaverick:MahathirMohamadinTurbulentTimeson24December,asthebookswerebroughtintothecountrythroughaPortKlangcheckpoint,puttingagagonthecirculationofthebook.AuthoredbyAsianWallStreetJournalformereditorBarryWain,thebookcontends,amongotherthings,thatthefourthPrimeMinisterwasresponsibleforalossofRM100billion(US$28.6billion)duringhisterminoffice.BesidesreiningincriticalviewsaboutMalaysia’sPrimeMinisters,bothFederalandstateinstitutionshavebeenactivelycontrollingthediscoursesonIslam.ThepreachingofIslamotherthaninthecountry’sofficiallysanctionedSunnahWalJamaahideologyisdisallowed.

AnexampleoftheextentofthiscontrolisthatthestateIslamiccouncilpreparestheFridaysermonstobepreachedbythemosqueimamthroughouteachstate.ThepoweroftheseinstitutionswasbroughttotheforebythearrestofMuslimscholarMohdAsriZainulAbidininNovember.AformermuftiinPerlisandknownforhisoutspokenness,AsriwasarrestedbytheSelangorreligiousauthorityforpreachingunauthorisedsermonsandwasaccusedofspreading“Wahabbism”.DespitethearrestdrawingcriticismfromtheoppositionparliamentariansandthePrimeMinister,chargeswerefiledagainstAsri.Inthesamemonth,thesamereligiousauthorityalsobarredPASparliamentarianKhalidAbdulSamadfrompreaching.ThereasongivenwasthatKhalid’ssermonsweretoo“political”.

Women’sgroupSistersinIslam(SIS)alsoraisedtheireofboththerulingandoppositionpartiesforopposingthecaningofMuslimwomen.InJuly,theShari’ahcourtinPahangsentencedawoman,KartikaSariDewiShukarno,tothemaximumsentenceofsixstrokesofthecaneandafineofRM5,000(US$1,430)fordrinkingbeerinpublicin2007.Followingajoint

statementbySISandotherwomen’sgroups,andSIS’sdecisionforlegalintervention,theUMNOwomen’swinginJohorand14otherMuslimgroupscalledonthegovernmenttocanceltheNGO’sregistration.TheMuslimgroupsalsolodgedpolicereportsagainstSIS.

Meanwhile,PASYouthaskedforapublicboycottofSISfor“beinginsolent”.EarlierinJune,duringthePASgeneralassemblyormuktamar,aresolutionwaspassedcallingforSIStobebanned.However,thepartysoonclaimedthattheresolutionwasamistake,afterrunningintodisagreementwithotherPakatanpartnersanddrawingcriticismfromthepublic,especiallygiventhattheresolutionwassponsoredbythebranchheadedbyapoliticianpreviouslyknownforhiscomparativelyprogressivestand.

Acrucialincidenthighlightingtheimpactofsuchintolerancetodiversereligiousdiscoursehasbeentheso-called“Allah”controversy.ThegovernmenthasinMarchrescindeditsFebruarypermissionfortheCatholicweekly,TheHeraldtouseoffourArabicwords–“Allah”,“Kaabah”,“Baitullah”and“solat”–bynon-Muslims.TheCatholicChurchrevealedthattheHomeMinistryseizedthousandsofcopiesoftranslatedBibleswhichusetheword“Allah”fromthecustomscheckpointsinMarchandSeptember,whileapetitionforjudicialreviewfiledbythechurcheswasongoing.

InMarch,religiousauthoritiesinSelangorthreatenedtheBarCouncilwithlegalactionforholdinganonlinepollontheissueoftheusageoftheword“Allah”bynon-Muslims.ThecourteventuallyruledinfavoroftheCatholicChurchinDecember,but,followinganappealfromthegovernmentaswellasprotestsfromseveralMuslimgroups,astayorderwasissued,meaningthatthebanwastoremaininplace.TheMuslimgroupsproceededtoorganisedemonstrationsinvariouspartsofthecapitalcityairingtheirdemandfor“Allah”tobemadeexclusiveforMuslims.Althoughthepolicedeemedthedemonstrationsillegal,noarrestsweremade.Astheworldenteredinto2010,severalChristianchurcheswereattackedwithfirebombs,believedtobeconnectedtothisissue.

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Giventhegovernment’spoliticalcontroloverthemedia,itishardnottospeculateontheirroleintheprominenceofethno-religiousdiscourse,andintheresultingtension.Malaysians

havelimitedandunequalaccesstoalternativeviews,discourseandinformation,whichareavailablelargelyonlineandpredominantlyinEnglish.Suchlimitedcirculationofalternativeviewscannoteffectivelychallengetheethno-religiousdogmabeingcirculatedthroughthemainstreammedia.

Formanyyears,thepolicyofcontrollinginformationandexpressionhasbeenjustifiedexplicitlyonsecurityreason,orimplicitlyasnecessarytothesocialengineeringprojectharboureduponthehopeofnation-building:unityandprosperity.ItistimeforMalaysianstorealisethatbothreasonshaveexpired,iftheywereeverlegitimate.Rather,theinconsistentemploymentoftherepressivelawsishavingadangerousimpactontheunity,economyandsecurityofMalaysians.

Despiteprogressiverhetoric,thegovernmenthasbeentakinghalf-measurestoimprovetransparencyandthusboostthecountry’scompetitiveness.Thisisnotgoodenough,andthetensionsandviolencethatwehaveseeneruptingareadirectresultofrepressivelegislations.Through2009andinto2010,CIJcontinuestocontendthatthePrintingPressesandPublicationsAct1984,SeditionAct1948,OfficialSecretsAct1972andSection233(1)oftheCommunicationsandMultimediaAct1998formamajorimpedimenttotransparencyandgoodgovernance.Theselawsmustberepealedforanytruereformtomaterialise.

Conclusion

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Arrest of Demonstrators and Assemblymen6 FebTeargaswasfiredat3000-5000demonstratorswhohadgatheredtoprotesttheswearing-inofthenewChiefMinisterfromBarisanNasional.Ninewerearrested.

4 MayPolicewarnedsupportersofBNandPakatannottogatherneartheStateSecretariatbuildingwhentheStateAssemblymeetingconvened.CivilsocietyactivistWongChinHuat,alsoaspokesmanforBersih,wasdetainedbypoliceforallegedsedition.Hisarrestwaslinkedtoapressconferencehehadcalledadaybefore,whereheurgedthepublictowearblackthefollowingdaytoprotestthechangeinadministrationinPerak.

6 MayWong’sremandorderwasextendedtwomoredays.PASvice-presidentMohamadSabuwasdetainedbypolice.PolicealsoarrestedthreeotherswhoattemptedtopresentacakeandlettertothePrimeMinisteronthebirthdayofthemurderedMongolian,AltantuyaShaaribuu.

7 MayThedayoftheStateAssemblysitting

Accordingtomedia,policearrestedsixty-fiveatthePerakstateassembly,includingPakatanleaders,parliamentariansandactivists.Anypersonwearingblackwasimmediatelydetained.Laterthatnight,policearrestedthirtytwoprotesterswhogatheredforcandlelightvigilsinprotestofWong’sarrestandtheeventsinPerak.TheprotesterswerearrestedinKualaLumpur,PenangandSarawak.Amongthosearrestedwerefivelawyerswhowerethereascounselforthosewhohadbeendetainedearlier.HomeMinisterDatukSeriHishammuddinTunHusseinpraisedthepolicecrackdown.

9 MayPoliceonSaturdaystoppedaDAPdinnerataschoolandseizedaudiovisualequipmentthatwasbeingusedtoplayavideoaboutthePerakassemblysitting.Thetechnicianhandlingtheequipmentwasalsodetained.

19 MayDAPparliamentariansTeoNieChingandJeniceLeewereamong11peoplearrestedinacandlelightvigilcallingforfreshelectionsinPerak.

21 May ThethirdprotesttobythePakatansaw17peopleincludingJeniceLeebeingdetainedbypoliceinAmpang.JeniceLeewasremandedfortwodays.

23 MayPoliceraidedtheDAPheadquartersinSelangorandconfiscatedcomputersandflyersaboutthePerakpoliticalcrisis.

26 MayPolicearrested21peopleincludingeightelectedrepresentativesfortakingpartinahungerstrikecallingforfreshelection,beingheldattheDAPheadquarters.AmongthosearrestedwereassemblymenChangLihKang(Teja),ChanMingKai(SimpangPulai),ThomasSu(PasirPinji),LimPekHar(Menglembu),LeongMeeMeng(Jalong),KeshvinderSingh(MalimNawar),formerSpeakerV.Sivakumar,IpohBaratMemberofParliamentM.Kulasegaranandsixsupporters.

Karpal Singh tried for sedition11 FebDAPChairman,KarpalSinghgaveastatementtothepoliceregardingpolicereportsmadeagainsthimbecausehesaidinapressconferencethattheSultancanbesuedforhisdecisiontoremoveNizarJamaluddinasPerakChiefMinister.Accordingtothepolice,89policereportswerelodgedagainstKarpal,includingfromUMNOmembers.Onthesameday,SelangorUmnoYouthchiefAbdulShukurIdrusled600peoplefromUmnoYouth,PuteriUmnoandotherNGOsinaprotestmarchfromthestateUmnobuildingtotheShahAlampolicestationtolodgeareportSingh.

16 MarchSinghischargedwithsedition.

29 April TheHighCourtrejectedSingh’sapplicationtogethimselfdischargedfrom

Timeline of Events

Chronology of the crisis in Perak

18

hisseditioncase.TheCourtheldthathisspeechinthepressconferencecanbetakenintotalityasthebasisforthechargewithouthavingtospecifythewordsorpartsthatareseditious.

12 AugustAnUtusanjournalist,thefirstprosecutionwitness,toldtheHighCourtthathewroteanarticleforhisnewspaperbasedonapartialunderstandingofthepressstatementandmistakenthemeaningofthewords“ultravires”inthestatementtomean“toinsult”.

9 DecemberAnotherprosecutionwitness,anRTMdeputynewsdirector,saidthetelevisionstationhadlabeledSinghashavingcommittedtreasoninthestation’sreportingofthepressconference.

14 DecemberAprosecutionwitnessfromastudentNGO,GabunganPelajarMelayuSemenanjungPerak,saidhelodgedapolicereportbecausehewasnot‘satisfied’thatSinghhadquestionedthelegalityoftheBNstategovernmentinPerak.

Media control12 Feb10000to20000copiesofpoliticalpartyorgansSuaraKeadilanandHarakahwerereportedconfiscatedinvariouspartsofthecountrysinceJanuary.

23 MarchTheHomeMinistrysuspendedHarakahandSuaraKeadilanforthreemonths.ThebanwasliftedbyNajibRazakonApril3whenhesworninasPrimeMinisterbutPKRcomplainedthatgovernmentofficialscontinuedtoharassdistributorsandconfiscatethepaper.

3 MayBNPerakStateSecretaryDrAbdulRahmanHashimbarredanumberofmediaorganizations,includingonlinenewssites,fromcoveringthestateassemblysitting,duetobeginon7May.However,thePakatanassemblySpeakerV.Sivakumarliftedtheban.BNappointedChiefMinisterZambryAbdulKadirdeniedthathehadissuedtheban.

13 MayMalaysiakinireportedthatmediaconglomerate,MediaPrima,hadbannedtheairingoffootageshowingthePakatanassemblySpeakerSivakumarbeingdraggedoutofthesittingon7May.MediaPrimaownsfourfree-to-airtelevisionstationsandisaffiliatedwithUMNO.

Police action and intimidation against bloggers23 FebPoliceinvestigatedblogger,JedYoongYuiFoongforpostingatranslationofanotherblogger’spostingcriticizingthePerakSultan.

24 FebPolicequestionedbloggerAhiruddinAttan(RockyBru)overcommentsleftonhisblogabouttheroleofthemonarchybyknownandannoymouscommentators.

13 MarchInanunprecedentedmove,sixpeoplewerechargedforhaving“insulted”SultanofPerakthroughawebsite.AlabassistantwasfinedRM10000indefault5months’jailforthesameoffence.

16 MarchAhusbandandwifewerechargedintheSessionsCourtforpostingcommentsontheSultanofPerak’swebsite,disagreeingwiththeRoyals’roleinthePerakcrisis.

15 AprilAhousewifewaschargedinaSessionsCourtwithforwardingcommentsagainsttheSultanofPerak.Herhusbandwasamongthesixchargedon13March.Bothofthemlaterclaimedtohavereceiveddeaththreatsviaemail.

22 AprilGagasanMelayuPerak(GMP)lodgedapolicereportagainstMalaysiakiniforanarticleallegedlyinsultingSultanAzlanShahofPerakandtheRajaMudaofPerak,RajaNazrinShah.

21 OctoberAtotalof11peoplewerechargedunderSection211and233oftheCommunicationandMultimediaActwhichinvolveafineofuptoRM24,500,forinsultingtheSultanofPerak,revealedtheMinisterofInformation.

19

Right to Assembly

7 MarchRiotpolicefiredteargasatthousandsofpeoplewhotriedtomarchtowardstheIstanaNegara(NationalPalace),toprotestagainstthepolicyofusingEnglishtoteachScienceandMathematics.124werearrested.

17 AprilSevenpeople,includingfourlawyers,wereacquittedanddischargedfortakingpartinawalktomarkWorldHumanRightsDayin2007.

19 MayBatuMPTianChuawasorderedbyamagistrate’scourttoenterhisdefenceagainstachargeofinjuringapolicemaninDecember2007,duringaBersihrally.

24 May1000supportersoftheSriLankanseparatistgroupTamilTigersassembledatSriSubramaniartempleinJalanBesar,BatuCaves,Gombak.Despitenothavingapolicepermit,itwasattendedbyDeputyMinisterM.Saravananandtwooppositionparliamentarians.Noarrestsweremade.

15 JunePolicefiredteargastodisperse700Iranians,mostlyuniversitystudents,outsideWismaUNinJalanSemantan.TheywereprotestingtheresultsoftheIranianpresidentialelections.

18 JuneFivepeoplewhowerestudentsatthetimeoftheirarrestwerefinedRM3,900orthreemonths’jailbythemagistrate’scourtforattendingananti-ISAassemblyin2001.Theyhadbeensuspendedfromtheirundergraduatestudieswhenchargedin2001.

19 JunePolicearrested14BurmesenationalsfortakingpartinagatheringorganizedbytheSelangorstategovernmenttocelebratethe64thbirthdayofactivistAungSanSuuKyi.

17 JulySevenwerearrestedattheformerMACCSelangorheadquartersatPlazaMasalamforgatheringtodemandaninvestigationintothedeathofpoliticalaide,

TeohBengHock.PakatanparliamentariansS.ManikavasagamandXavierJayakumarwereamongthosearrested,whileMPGanPeiNeiandastateassemblyaide,LooChuanBoonwereinjuredduringascufflewiththeriotpolice.

17 July ThreewerearrestedforsubmittingamemorandumofagainstthekillingsofMuslimsinsouthernThailandtotheThaiembassy.

23 JulyPolicedetained10people,includingMICYouthcoordinatorT.Mohan,whenabout50peopleweretomarchtowardsKomtartohandoveramemorandumtotheChiefMinister’sofficeonanevictionissue.

28 JulyPolicewarnedthattheywilltakesternactionagainstanypartythatparticipatesinanyassemblyinthecapitalon1August.Thewarningcameastworallieshadbeenplannedforthatday,bygroupswithopposingstandsontheISA.

1 AugustPolicearrested589people,firedteargasandwatercannonsatnumerouslocationsinthecityafterthousandsofpeopletooktothestreetscallingforarepealoftheISA.Thousandswereblockedfromreachingthevenue,asthecapitalcitywaspracticallysealedoff.Mediareportedthatthecrowdconsistedofbetween5,000and15,000protesters.

2 AugustNajibRazaksaidthegovernmentwillallowfuturemassrallyinstadiumsandurgedthepeoplenottotaketothestreets.

2 AugustPolicereleased560outof589peopledetainedthepreviousday.Thosereleasedincludeda13yearold.

3 August29peopleclaimedtrialtothechargeofillegalassembly,havingbeenarrestedduringprotestscallingfortheabolitionoftheISA.

13 AugustThePublicServicedirector-generalIsmailAdamissuedacircularwarningthatcivilservantsfoundparticipatinginillegalgatheringsor“causes”wouldbedemotedorsacked.

Timeline of Events

20

19 August TheHomeMinistersaidthegovernmentistoamendthePoliceActtoallowpublicassembliesincertainlocations,withouttheneedforapolicepermit.

16 September15indigenouspeople,includingtwoindigenousrightsleaderswerearrestedforsubmittingamemorandumtotheSarawakchiefminister,TaibMahmud,protestingtheconstructionoftheMurumDam.Theywerereleasedonthesameday.

October 11AllthosechargedwithillegalassemblyattheKesasHighwayin2000,wherepoliceactionwascondemnedbytheMalaysianhumanrightscommissionasbeingexcessive,wereacquitted.Nopoliceinvestigationhastakenplaceintotheincident.

ISA and the release of Hindraf leaders

5 April13peopleincludingHindrafleadersV.Ganabatirau,andR.KengadharanwerereleasedfromtheISAdetentioncentreinKamunting,Taiping.Ganabatiraulaterclaimedhewaspreventedfromspeakingtothemediaforayearasoneoftheconditionsforhisrelease.

17 AprilInspectorGeneralPolice,MusaHassanconfirmedthearrestofthreemeninJohorundertheISA.

20 AprilMalaysiakinireportedthatthepolicehasbeenpressuringthefamilymembersofISAdetaineeAgusSalimtostopthemfromseekinghelporgettingtheirplightheard.Aguswasdetainedon5MarchallegedlyduetosuspectedlinkswithIslamicfundamentalists.

8 MayThethreeremainingHindrafleaders,P.Uthayakumar,M.ManoharanandVasanthaKumarwerereleasedfromtheKamuntingdetentioncentre,after514daysofincarcerationundertheISA.On16April,thetriohadfailedintheirhabeascorpusappeal.P.Uthayakumar

stillhasaseditioncasepending,ashefailedtogettheSessionsCourttostrikeoutthecharge.SevenforeignersdetainedundertheISAwerealsoreleased.

19 MayFormerISAdetaineeP.UthayakumarfailedtoappearbeforeanadvisorypanelmeetingattheKamuntingdetentioncampnearhere,forwhichtheHomeMinisterDatukSeriHishammuddinHusseinsaidnoactionwillbetakenagainsthim.

27 MayAllegedJImilitantMasSelamatKastariisdetainedundertheISA.

16 JuneTheHomeMinistersaidtheISAmaybeusedtocrushthe‘FederalSpecialForcesofMalaysia(FSFM)’,believedtobeafraudorganizationmodeledasacivilianarmy.

25 JuneHomeMinisterHishammuddinHusseinsaidinreplytoquestioninparliamentthattherewereonly12ISAdetaineesleftinKamunting,comprising6Malaysiansand6foreigners.Hesaidtheywereunderdetentionforeitherinvolvementinmilitantactivitiesorforforgingdocuments.

25 JuneHusseinsaidtheGovernmentislookingintoaproposaltoreducethedetentionperiodunderISAfrom60to28days.

19 OctoberThegovernmentmaintaineditsstancethatitwillnotscraptheISA.

22 October TheHomeMinistryannouncedthatthereviewofISAwillbeonfiveareas:thetreatmentaccordedtoISAdetainees:theirlivingconditions,mealsandotherbasicneeds;thedurationoftheirsentence,thatistheinitial60days’detentionforinvestigationsandthetwo-yeardetentionorder;thepowersoftheHomeMinisterininvokingtheactandtheabuseofsuchpowersheholds;theperceptionthattheISAisormaybeexploitedforpoliticalreasons;andtheprovisionsintheISAwhichallowfordetentionwithouttrial.

21

Timeline of Events

22

The “Allah” issue

26 Feb HomeMinistryliftedabanontheword“Allah”,whichhadbeenrestrictedtoMuslimpublications,providednon-Muslimreligiouspublicationsusingthewordstateprominentlythatthepublicationisfornon-Muslimsonly.CatholicweeklyHeraldhadappliedforajudicialreviewofthebanin2008.TheapplicationwasdeemedacademicwhentheHerald’spublicationpermitexpiredinDec2008,sotheHeraldreappliedforajudicialreviewon16Feb.

2 MarchThegovernmentrescindeditsearlierdecisiontoliftthebanontheuseoftheword“Allah”.

5 MarchReligiousadviserinthePMdepartment,AbdullahMdZinsaid10stateswithSultanshavegazettedthebanontheusageof“Allah”,“Kaabah”,“Solat”and“Baitullah”bynonMuslims,whileafatwaonasimilarbanhadbeenissuedtotheremainingfourstates,noneofwhichhaveaSultan.

12 MarchTheSelangorIslamicReligiousCouncil(Mais)threatenedlegalactionagainsttheBarCounciloveritspollontheuseofthewordAllahbynon-Muslims.

13 MarchThesongAllahPedulibyIndonesianartistAgnesMonicahasbeenbannedinSelangor,asAllahinthelyricspertainstoJesusChrist.

5 September Catholic weekyly TheHeraldreceivedaletterfromtheHomeMinistrystatingthatithasnotapprovedthepublishingpermitfor2010,althoughinAugustithadapprovedittoprintinfouroutofthefivelanguagestheyhadrequested,excludingtheKadazanDusunlanguage.

4 November TheCouncilofChurchesrevealedthat15,000BahasaMalaysiaBibleswerepreventedfrombeingdistributedbytheHomeMinistryinMarchandinSeptemberforcontaining‘banned’terminology.TheChristianFederationofMalaysia(CFM)calledfortheimmediatereleaseof theBibles.

14 November The HomeMinisterheldameetingwith representativesoftheCatholicChurch explainingthattheAugustpermitwas validandthattheyaretoignorethe Septemberletter.

31 December The HighCourtallowedTheHeraldtouse theword“Allah”forChristians.

23

Restrictions against discourse of Islam

Call to ban SIS

7 JunePASpassedaresolutionurgingthatwomenrightsgroupSistersinIslam(SIS)bebannedandcalledfortheNationalFatwaCounciltoinvestigateSIS.Onthesameday,PAS’spartnerinPakatan,PKRissuedastatementdisagreeingwiththeresolution.

9 JuneMPTeresaKokofDAPandtheMinisterforWomen,FamilyandtheCommunityShahrizatAbdulJalilcriticizedPAS’sresolution.

10 JuneFormerPMTunDrMahathirMohamadcriticizedPASforitscalltobanSIS.

11 JunePKRMPZulkifliNoordinwantstheCompaniesCommission(CCM)tostopSISfromusingtheword“Islam”initstitle.TheCCMsaiditisunabletodoso.

14 JunePASsaiditsresolutioncallingforthebanningofwomen’sgroup,SIS,wasamistakeandthatthe‘correct’resolutioncalledforengagementwiththewomen’sgroup.

16 JuneWanitaGerakanurgedPAStowithdrawitsresolution.

2 OctoberFourteenMuslimNGOslodgedpolicereportsagainstSISforquestioningthe

caningofwomenundertheIslamiclaw.TheNGOsdemandedSIS“apologizeforhavinginsultedIslamiclawandtheShar’iahcourt”.

6 OctoberUMNOWanitaJohorcalledonthegovernmenttocanceltheregistrationofSIS,theJointActionGroupforGenderEquality(JAG)andtheWomens’AidOrganization(WAO),inthelightofthegroup’sstatementagainstthewhippingofaformermodel.

The Former Perlis mufti

2 November Whileconductingareligiousclassinaprivatehome,formerPerlismuftiDrMohdAsriZainulAbidinwasarrestedbytheSelangorReligiousAffairsDepartment(JAIS),onthegroundsofpreachingwithoutcertification.Hisarrestwasquestionedbyparliamentarians,includingthePrimeMinister,butJAISdefendeditsactions,andrevealedthatithadbeenmonitoringAsri’spreachingforthreeyears.

18 November AbidinwaschargedforpreachingwithoutcertificationattheShari’ahCourtunderSection119oftheIslamicAdministrationofSelangor.Ifconvicted,AsricanbefineduptoRM3,000andfacesimprisonmentofuptotwoyears.

25 NovemberOppositionMPKhalidAbdulSamad’sauthorizationtopreachIslamwasrevokedbyJAIS,onthegroundthathispreachingistoopolitical.

Online censorship

16 JuneThePrimeMinistertoldParliamentthatcivilservantsarebannedfromvisiting39websitesandblogscontaining“offensive,obsceneorseditiouselements”.

7 July TheInformationMinister,RaisYatimrevealedthatspecialunitshavebeensetupunderboththeHomeandInformationMinistriestomonitorblogs,addingthattheregulationofbloggerscomesunderboththePrintingPressesandPublicationsActandtheCommunicationsandMultimediaAct.

8 JulyTheDeputyMinisterofScienceandTechnologyrevealedthattheMalaysianCommunicationsandMultimediaCommission(MCMC)hadshutdown33websitessaidtocontainpornographicmaterials,andthatafurther15similarwebsiteshadbeenaskedtoshutdown.

6 AugustAFP,quotingananonymoussource,reportedthatthegovernmentwasconsideringimposinganinternetfiltertoblock“undesirable”websites,onthegroundsofmaintainingracialharmony.LocalportalTheMalaysianInsiderreportedthatthegovernmenthadcalledforproposalsfromcompaniesforinternetcontentfilteringsystems.

7 AugustYatimconfirmedthataninternetfilteringsystemwouldbesetuptofilterpornography.Civilsocieties,oppositionmembersandbloggerscriedfoul.

8 August,ThePrimeMinisterrefutedtheInformationMinister’sstatementsabouttheinternetfilterandsaidthattheGovernmentwillnotimposeanycensorshipontheinternet.

4September TheMCMCorderedMalaysiakinitoremovefromitswebsitetwovideos.Thefirstvideodepictedprotestersstompingacowhead,asymboloftheHindureligion,whileagitatingagainsttherelocationofaHindu

temple.ThesecondvideowastheHomeMinister’spressconferenceindefenceoftheprotesters.

4 NovemberBloggerBernardKhooTengSwee,whowriteszorro-unmasked.blogspot.com,wasquestionedbypoliceoverapostingin2008ofaphotowhichcarriedtheemblemoftheRoyalMalaysianPolice,onwhichwassuperimposedtheimageofadog.

19 NovemberTheInformationMinistertoldtheParliamentthattheMCMChadchargedeightwebsiteoperatorsundertheCMA.SevenofthewebsitesweresaidtohaveinsultedIslam.Atotalofseventy-oneinvestigationshadbeencarriedoutbytheMCMC.

Raja Petra Kamarudin

23 April TheSessionsCourtissuedawarrantofarrestagainstPetraKamarudinandashow-causenoticetohiswife,Marina,becausetheformerfailedtoshowupathiscriminaldefamationtrial.Thebloggerclaimedonhiswebsite,MalaysiaToday,thatheisinself-exileandfearsanotherarrestundertheISA.

26 JuneSecondarrestwarrantoutforKamarudinafterhefailedtoattendhiscriminaldefamationtrialattheSessionsCourt.

11 NovemberKamaruddin’sSeditioncasewassuspendedbecausethepolicewereunabletotrackhimdown.

13 NovemberKamarudin’scriminaldefamationcasewassuspendedbecausethepolicewasunabletotrackhimdown.

On the media

16 JanTwojournalistsfromMerdekaReviewlodgedapolicereportforhavebeengivencashattheBarisanNasionalcommonmediacentreduringtheKualaTerengganuby-election.OppositionparliamentarianTeoNieChing’s

Timeline of Events

24

questiontothePrimeMinisterontheissueduringthenextday’sParliamentsittingwasrejected.Theanti-corruptioncommissionalsodecidedtodropthecaseon20Jandespiteinformingthereportersthatitwouldlaunchaninvestigation.

24 MarchSixonlinemediaorganizations-Malaysiakini,TheMalaysianInsider,Siasah,MerdekaReviewandTheNutGraph-werebarredfromcoveringproceedingsoftheUMNOgeneralassembly.ThereasongivenbytheUMNOsec-generalTengkuAdnanwasthatthemediawerenot“ethical”.

31 MarchInhisblog,thePenangChiefMinisterLimGuanEngsaidthestatehasbannedtheNewStraitsTimesfromthestate’sfunctionsuntilthepaperprovidestheadministrationwiththerightofreply.Limsaidthatthepaperhascarriedinaccuratereportsabouthisadministration.

18 AprilMalaysiakinireportedthatMediaPrimaBerhad–theownerofthefourTVstationsTV3,ntv7,8TVandtv9-hadorderedthestationsnottonamepoliticalanalystanddefendantAbdulRazakBagindawhenreportingthejudgementoftheAltantuyaShaariibuumurdercase.

8 MayMCAPresidentOngTeeKeatlodgedapolicereportagainstChineselanguagemagazineHaoWai(SpecialWeekly)fordefamationunderthePrintingPressesandPublicationActandcriminaldefamation.Themagazineeditorandtwostaffwerequestionedbypolice.

3 JuneTheMICurgedtheGovernmenttotakeactionagainstcolumnist“AwangSelamat”forreferringtotheChineseandIndiansMalaysiansinMalaysiaasimmigrants.

5 JuneAreporterfromUtusanMalaysia,HasnurulMohamdwasbarredfromcoveringtheswearinginoftheSeberangPeraiMunicipalCouncilPresidentinPenang.

24 JuneHomeMinisterHishammuddinHusseinsaidthegovernmenthasnoplantoabolishthePrintingPressesandPublicationsActortheISA.

13 JulyPolicehavestartedinvestigatingapolicereportonanarticlepublishedbymagazineAl-Islam.Thearticle,writtenbyaMuslimreporterwhowentundercovertoparticipateinachurchmasswasdeemedoffensivetoChristians.

15 JulyAjournalistwithprivatetelevisionchannelntv7,FlorenceLooi,wasissuedamemoandhertalkshowprogramshelvedaftersheaskedherpanelgueststoratetheperformanceofthePrimeMinisterinhisfirst100days.

25 AugustThenewspapervendorsassociationandMICmemberslodgedapolicereportagainsttheMalayMailforpublishinganarticlediscussingtheparty’sinternalpolitics,picturesofMICleaderslabelledasbelongingtolowercastes.TheMalayMailrespondedwithaclarificationandtookdownthepicturesfromitswebedition.

25 NovemberAreporterfromUtusanMalaysia,YazidAliazwasaskedtoleaveapressconferenceorganizedbyPakatanRakyatinSelangor.

14 DecemberViceChairmanofDAPM.Kulasegaranmadeapolicereportagainst“AwangSelamat”forsuggestingthattheDAPwouldabolishthemonarchyifitcametopower.

17 DecemberMalaysiakinireportedthatameetingwascalledbytheHomeMinistrywithnewspapereditorstodiscusstheadoptionofanewsetofpublishingguidelines.Theelaboratebutambiguouslywordedguidelineswereframedas“self-regulation”.Amongothers,theywerenottogivedetaileddescriptionsofcriminaloffencessuchasrape,murder,robbery;nothingaboutcohabitation,adultery,homosexuality,counter-culture;andnographicsofhumangenitaliaandG-strings.

25

Restriction of campaigning at by-elections

6 JanuaryPolicearrestedsixPKRmembersforputtinguppostersofthemurderedMongolian,AltantuyaShaariibuu,atKualaTerengganu,duringaby-electioncampaigningperiod.

23 MarchThirty-onewerearrestedataPKRceramahinSungaiPetani.Thecrowd,reportedtobearound1,000strong,hadassembledtolistentoAnwarIbrahim’scampaignspeechfortheBukitSelambauby-election.Theyweremetwithteargasandwatercannonfromthepolice.

27 MarchPolicebannedallpoliticalpartiesfromgivingtalksinopenareasthroughouttheBukitSelambauby-election.Electionwatchdog‘MalaysiansforFreeandFairElections’(Mafrel)saidtherewasheavy,unjustifiedpolicepresenceduringthreeby-electionsinBukitGantang,BukitSelambauandBatangAi.

31 MarchTopicssuchastheShaariibuumurderandthePerakpoliticalcrisis,aswellasraceandreligion,werebannedfromcampaignspeechesinthetripleby-electionsofBukitGantang,BukitSelambauandBatangAi.Thetopicrestrictionsweremadespecificasconditionsofobtainingapolicepermitforpublicspeeches.

30 MayThepolicesaidtheyareinvestigatingthreePakatanleadersincludingDAPadviserLimKitSiang,inrelationtheirpublicspeechesduringthePenantiby-election.

Others

9 MarchTwostudents,ChooKokWeiandMedecciLineilRepongfromUniversitiUtaraMalaysiainSintok,Kedah,werechargedbytheuniversitywithbreachingtheUniversitiesandUniversityCollegesAct(UUCA).Theyhadissuedstatementstothemediacondemninganincreaseinbusfaresandstartedanonlinepetition.Thestudentsandotherspresentedamemorandumtotheofficeofthevicechancellorforstudentaffairs,AhmadFaizHamid,onJan19.

21 JulyTheHomeMinistryissuedaprohibitionorderon13publicationswith“immoralcontent”anddeemedunsuitableforthereadingpublic.

8 AugustTheHomeMinistrybanned22booksinthesevenmonthstoJulythisyearsaidthePublicationsControlDivisionandAl-QuranTextDivisionprincipalassistantsecretaryAbdulRazakAbdulLatif

9 SeptemberSixmenwerechargedwithseditionintheSessionsCourtfortheirinvolvementinthe“cowhead”protest.

14 SeptemberAprotestwasheldagainsttheMalaysianCommunicationandMultimediaCommission(MCMC)’sinvestigationofonlinenewswebsiteMalaysiakini,whichhadbeenaccusedoffanningracialtension.

28 SeptemberBrunowasbannedbytheNationalFilmCensorshipBoard

13 October 8studentsfromUniversityMalayawerechargedundertheUUCAforinvitinganoppositionpolitician,ExcoofSelangorstateTeresaKoktobepartoftheirpaneljudgesforanon-campusdebatecompetition,despiteamendmentstothelawwhichallowsstudentsinteractionwithpoliticiansonacademicoccasion.24 DecCopiesofMalaysianMaverick:MahathirMohamadinTurbulentTimeswereconfiscatedfromthePortKlangcheckpointfor“contentstudy”bytheHomeMinistry.

Timeline of Events

26

4

The Centre for Indepedent Journalism (CIJ)would like to thank Malaysiakini.com, The Malaysian Insider, Merdeka Review, Amin Iskandar, and Sundhagran Stanley for providing and allowing us to use the photographs in this report. Individual credits are in the photograph captions.

Cover picture by Amin IskandarPublished by Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) 2010ISBN: 983 44026

Writer/ Researcher: Yip Wai FongEditor: Sonia Randhawa, Chuah Siew Eng

About CIJTheCentreforIndependentJournalism(CIJ)isanon-profitorganizationwhichaspirestocreateasocietythatisdemocratic,justandfree,whereallpeoplewillenjoyfreemediaandthefreedomtoexpress,seekandimpartinformation.

CIJwasstartedinresponsetothepoliticalcrisisof1998asSaksi.com,awebsitethatattemptedtogivebroadanalysistocurrentevents.Todaywehaveexpandedourefforttoadvocacyoffreedomofexpression(FOE)andinformation(FOI)andtoencourageproffesionaljournalismpracticesandmediafreedominMalaysia.

Our objectives;• PromoteanddefendtheexerciseofFOE• RaisepublicawarenessonFOE/FOItomobilizesupportfor mediafreedom,expressionandaccesstoinformation.• Ensuregoodpoliciesandadvocatinglegislativechange• Facilitatingmarginalizedvoicethroughcommunityradio

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