FREEDOM OF SPEECH / FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION


FREEDOM OF SPEECH / FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak without censorship and/or limitation. The synonymous term freedom of expression is sometimes used to indicate not only freedom of verbal speech but any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used [United Nations, 1966, 1976]. The right to freedom of speech is recognized as a human right under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognized in international human rights law in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The ICCPR recognizes the right to freedom of speech as "the right to hold opinions without interference. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression". Furthermore freedom of speech is recognized in European, inter-American and African regional human rights law [United Nations, 1966, 1967]. Freedom of speech, or the freedom of expression, is recognized in international and regional human rights law. The right is enshrined in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights [Andrew Puddephatt & Hodder Arnold, 2005; Kumar, Ambika, 2006].

In Islamic ethics freedom of speech was first declared in the Rashidun period by the caliph Umar in the 7th century. In the Abbasid Caliphate period, freedom of speech was also declared by al-Hashimi (a cousin of Caliph al-Ma'mun) in a letter to one of the religious opponents he was attempting to convert through reason.

According to George Makdisi and Hugh Goddard, "the idea of academic freedom" in universities was "modelled on Islamic custom" as practiced in the medieval Madrasah system from the 9th century. Islamic influence was "certainly discernible in the foundation of the first deliberately-planned university" in Europe [Boisard, Marcel A., 1980].

* Selected REFERENCES / Sources:

Amnesty International: Annual Reports: URLhttp://www.amnesty.org/ailib/aireport/index.html Andrew Puddephatt & Hodder Arnold. (2005). Freedom of Expression: The Essentials of Human Rights. United Publishers. Boisard, Marcel A. (July 1980), "On the Probable Influence of Islam on Western Public and International Law", International Journal of Middle East Studies 11 (4): 429–50. Goddard, Hugh. (2000). A History of Christian-Muslim Relations. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Kumar, Ambika. (2006). ‘Using Courts to Enforce the Free Speech Provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.’ Published by Chicago Journal of International Law. Summer 2006. URLhttp://www.allbusiness.com/corporate-governance/4082846-1.html United Nations: ‘International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.’ Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16th December 1966: Entry into force 23 March 1976, in accordance with Article 49. URLhttp://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/ccpr.htm (United Nations) Wikipedia. (2010). ‘Freedom of Speech.’ Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. URLhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_expression

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20 April 2010

Kompaun JPJ Naik 333 Peratus

Comment:

One thing comes to my mind when the JPJ/government announced the 333 percent increases in summones, compounds, and/or fines for vehicle and/or traffic offences = This will definitely make road users more careful of their speed limits and other traffic and/or vehicle offences, but at the same time, this will also encourage 'corruptions' among JPJ enforcement officers. Why would someone wants to pay RM1000 for an offence when they can pay RM200-500 cash (of corruption money) to enforcement officers?? (JPJ officers will definitely get fatter after this! Some of course!).

At the end of the day, we need to ask the JPJ/government, what is all the fuss of the ridiculously large increase in compounds/summones? Are the people not suffering enough already due to the economic crisis, high unemployment rates, and high crime rates, among others.

http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2010&dt=0420&pub=Kosmo&sec=Negara&pg=ne_01.htm (20th April 2010)

Kompaun JPJ naik 333 peratus
Oleh JUNHAIRI ALYASA
junhairi.alyasa@kosmo.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR - Para pemilik kenderaan dan pengguna jalan raya perlu lebih berhati-hati selepas ini berikutan kadar kompaun maksimum kesalahan jalan raya akan dinaikkan daripada RM300 kepada RM1,000 tidak lama lagi.

Kenaikan kira-kira 333 peratus itu berikutan pindaan ke atas Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987 yang akan dikuatkuasakan kelak. Peruntukan itu adalah antara 51 Fasal pindaan yang terkandung di dalam Rang Undang-Undang Pengangkutan Jalan (Pindaan) 2010 yang dibentangkan untuk bacaan kali pertama oleh Timbalan Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Rahim Bakri di Dewan Rakyat semalam.

Antara pindaan lain yang dicadangkan termasuk menaikkan umur kelayakan memohon lesen memandu motosikal daripada 16 tahun kepada 17 tahun. Penalti bagi kesalahan melanggar umur kelayakan itu juga dinaikkan daripada tidak melebihi RM2,000 kepada tidak kurang daripada RM1,000 dan tidak lebih daripada RM5,000.





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