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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11 January 2012

Rasuah: Bekas Ketua Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Muar dipenjara, denda RM180,000



(11 JAN 2012)

Rasuah: Bekas Ketua Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Muar dipenjara, denda RM180,000

JOHOR BAHRU 10 Jan. – Bekas Ketua Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Muar, Deputi Supritendan Mansor Mohamad, 55, dihukum penjara empat tahun dan denda berjumlah RM180,000 oleh Mahkamah Sesyen di sini hari ini selepas didapati bersalah atas enam tuduhan rasuah, lapan tahun lalu.

Hakim Mohamad Haidar Abdul Aziz menjatuhkan hukuman penjara empat tahun dan denda RM30,000 bagi setiap pertuduhan terhadap Mansor Mohamad, 55.

Mansor turut berdepan hukuman penjara setahun sekiranya gagal menjelaskan denda berjumlah RM180,000 berkenaan. Kesemua hukuman tersebut diperintahkan berjalan serentak mulai hari ini.

Mohamad Haidar bagaimanapun membenarkan permohonan Mansor yang merupakan bapa kepada lima anak itu untuk menangguhkan pelaksanaan hukuman tersebut sementara menunggu rayuan.

Mengikut pertuduhan pertama, Mansor didakwa meminta suapan wang RM6,000 daripada Toh Ah Ban sebagai dorongan untuk tidak mengambil tindakan undang-undang terhadapnya yang menjalankan aktiviti perniagaan nombor ekor haram di Hotel Pelangi, Muar kira-kira pukul 2 petang, 21 April 2003.

Bagi tuduhan kedua, Mansor didakwa menerima rasuah berjumlah RM6,000 daripada Ah Ban bagi tujuan yang sama di bilik nombor 132, Hotel River View, Muar pukul 10.15 malam pada 9 Mei 2003.

Mansor turut didakwa meminta rasuah wang RM6,000 daripada Lee Cheng Seng juga sebagai dorongan untuk tidak mengambil tindakan undang-undang terhadap pengadu yang menjalankan aktiviti perniagaan nombor ekor haram di Stesen Minyak Petronas, Jalan Temenggung Ahmad, Muar kira-kira pukul 2 petang, 28 April 2003.

Berdasarkan pertuduhan keempat, dia didakwa menerima suapan RM6,000 daripada Cheng Seng di bilik nombor 132, Hotel River View, Muar pukul 10.15 malam pada 9 Mei 2003.

Bagi tuduhan kelima, Mansor didakwa meminta rasuah wang RM6,000 daripada Wong Choon Seng bagi tujuan yang sama, kira-kira pukul 12 tengah hari di Plaza Tol Tangkak pada 28 April 2003.

Pada pertuduhan terakhir, dia didakwa bersetuju menerima suapan RM6,000 daripada Choon Seng bagi tujuan tersebut pada pukul 10.15 malam, 9 Mei 2003 di bilik nombor 132, Hotel River View, Muar.

Bagi kesemua tuduhan meminta suapan, Mansor didakwa mengikut Seksyen 10(a)(bb) Akta Pencegahan Rasuah 1997, manakala bagi tuduhan menerima, dia didakwa di bawah Seksyen 11(a) akta sama dan boleh dihukum mengikut Seksyen 16 akta tersebut.

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