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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24 December 2011

SPRM Siasat Pejabat NFC !!




(24 DEC 2011)


SPRM siasat pejabat NFC dua jam


WAN Abdul Rahman Wan Mohd. Saleh (kanan) bersama pegawai-pegawainya membawa dokumen penting keluar dari pejabat NFC berhubung skandal di Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

KUALA LUMPUR 23 Dis. - Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) hari ini mengambil masa dua jam untuk menyiasat pejabat Perbadanan Fidlot Nasional (NFC) di Jalan Solaris, Bukit Kiara di sini bagi membantu siasatan dakwaan penyelewengan isu dana membabitkan syarikat itu dan pembelian kondominium mewah di ibu negara.

Lapan pegawai SPRM, diketuai Penguasa Wan Abdul Rahman Wan Mohd. Salleh dilihat memasuki pejabat NFC itu sejak pukul 3 petang dan keluar kira-kira pukul 5 petang bagi mencari bahan yang boleh membantu siasatan.

Sebaik sahaja keluar, mereka dilihat membawa bersama empat sampul surat mengandungi dokumen-dokumen berkaitan termasuk sebuah unit pemprosesan pusat (CPU).

Sementara itu, Pengarah Siasatan SPRM, Datuk Mustafar Ali berkata, pemeriksaan yang dilakukan petang ini mendapat kerjasama baik daripada semua kakitangan NFC.

"Tiada tangkapan dilakukan hari ini, hanya beberapa dokumen yang berkaitan disita bagi membantu siasatan berhubung isu NFC.

"Masih terlalu awal juga untuk SPRM memaklumkan status siasatan. Saya minta semua pihak beri ruang kepada SPRM untuk menyiasat secara terperinci berhubung isu ini," katanya ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia hari ini.

SPRM baru-baru ini memaklumkan, tindakan pengumpulan bukti dan keterangan telah bermula sejak isu berkenaan dilaporkan dalam Laporan Audit Negara 2010 yang menyatakan projek tersebut tidak mencapai sasaran yang telah ditetapkan oleh pihak kerajaan.

SPRM telah menerima aduan daripada satu pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang mendakwa berlaku penyalahgunaan wang pinjaman yang diperolehi oleh NFC bagi membeli kondominium mewah berharga RM9.8 juta yang dibeli di Lembah Klang.



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