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

.

20 February 2012

Ada Gerakan Guling Kerajaan (Malaysia)


Komen:

Akan sentiasa ada percubaan (oleh kuasa besar, seperti USA dan Israel) utk menggulingkan kerajaan setempat, sama ada Malaysia, atau Iran, atau Tunisia, atau Mesir, atau Iraq, atau Afghanistan, dan sebagainya... dan pemimpin Islam yang tidak menunjukkan kesukaan kpd polisi USA atau Israel, akan cepat-cepat diberhentikan (dgn cara baik atau jahat).

TETAPI yang lebih penting ialah, adakah kerajaan yg sedia ada memenuhi keperluan sosial, ekonomi, dan politik (civil politics) rakyat setempat, atau sebaliknya, hanya memenuhi keperluan golongan elit yang tamakkan harta dan kuasa politik negara??! Sama-samalah kita fikirkan.

Lagi satu... apa sudah jadi dengan Anwar Ibrahim??!! Bukankah suatu masa dahulu, dia adalah pejuang kuat prinsip-prinsip Islam dan penyokong warga Palestine??!! "Keadilan apa yang diwar-warkan??!!"


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


(20 Feb 2012)

Ada Gerakan Guling Kerajaan (Malaysia)

Oleh AMRAN MULUP
pengarang@utusan.com.my

MELAKA 18 Feb. - Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad memberi amaran Malaysia tidak akan terkecuali daripada menghadapi gerakan menggulingkan kerajaan sedia ada kerana terdapat pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) dan parti politik di negara ini yang menerima sokongan kewangan dari Amerika Syarikat (AS).

Tegas beliau, sejak dahulu lagi AS memberi sokongan kewangan kepada mana-mana NGO dan parti politik bagi menggerakkan usaha untuk menjatuhkan kerajaan yang tidak disukai oleh negara tersebut.

''Saya tidak hairan dan percaya ada NGO dan parti politik di negara ini sedang mengadakan gerakan untuk menukar kerajaan yang sedia ada.

''Kalau di Malaysia ia berlaku namun ini bukan perkara biasa buat AS. Memang kerja mereka adalah hendak menjatuhkan kerajaan yang tidak sokong mereka.

''Sebagai contoh, AS minta kita sekat perdagangan dengan Iran dan jika kita tidak berhenti, mereka akan ambil tindakan terhadap perdagangan Malaysia," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas majlis perasmian Jelajah Aman, Wakaf Water For 4Gaza anjuran Yayasan Keamanan Dunia Perdana (PGPF) peringkat negeri Melaka di Dewan Seri Negeri, Ayer Keroh, di sini hari ini.

Turut hadir, Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Mohd. Khalil Yaakob, Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Mohd. Ali Rustam dan Pengerusi PGPF, Tan Sri Norian Mai.

Jelajah Aman anjuran PGPF itu bertujuan mendapat sumbangan ikhlas daripada orang ramai melalui penjualan 1.5 juta botol air mineral bagi membantu penduduk Palestin di Gaza yang menghadapi kesulitan keperluan air minuman.

Menjawab soalan pada sesi dialog pada majlis tersebut mengenai tindakan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menyokong Israel, bekas Perdana Menteri berkata, ketua pembangkang itu cuba mendapat sokongan bukan sahaja daripada rejim Zionis tetapi juga AS bagi melakukan gerakan menukar kerajaan.

''Hanya dengan sokongan daripada dua buah negara itu, Anwar boleh menukar Malaysia untuk menyokong Israel selain membantu perjuangannya untuk menjadi Perdana Menteri," katanya.

Menurut Dr. Mahathir, sokongan AS itu diperlukan kerana tanpa sokongan daripada luar mungkin hajatnya untuk menjadi Perdana Menteri tidak akan kesampaian.








13 February 2012

1CARE Malaysia ?!




1Care: Care to explain?

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012 - 17:00
by Terence Fernandez

WHY would the government push such an unpopular scheme like the 1Care health plan down our throats so close to elections? This was the question I texted Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai on Friday night.

The minister and MCA No 2 promptly responded that it was not a done deal and the consultation process was still ongoing.

Then why, I asked, did the National Health Financing Unit deputy director Dr Rozita Halina Hussein tell the media during a Thursday briefing that 1Care was mandatory; only the quantum that Malaysians would have to pay for the scheme was still being deliberated?

Liow responded: “It's only mandatory if we accept one of the models presented ... will clarify.” He added that the media was “not given the full picture”. Now we are told its implementation is pushed to 2014.

Communication, it seems have always been the bane of officialdom. Why is it so difficult to present crisp, clear information? Why is it that more often than not, there is always a retraction or, in the case of the Health Ministry a need for a “clarification” when what comes out of the mouths of officials only give rise to more questions, concerns and boiling temperatures of stakeholders — in this case, the taxpayers.

We saw this similar reaction from Auditor-General (AG) Tan Sri Ambrin Buang over the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp) issue when over a month after making his remarks in the annual AG's Report did he come out to “clarify” he never said the feedlot was in a mess, reasoning he felt compelled to voice his “clarification” as his staff had come under fire.

By then the damage had already been done and as we know now, the NFCorp is an unstoppable train.

With millions being spent annually on hiring communications consultants and outsourcing public relations work to the private sector, we wonder why is it that information — a great commodity in this day and age — still have the tendency of being misinterpreted or having the message totally misunderstood. Sometimes — as in the case of 1Care, it seems that even the information is wrong.

Then there is the question of why we still have a public relations department in most government agencies and ministries, with full-time staff. But we'll leave that for another day.

A few years ago I gave a presentation on communications and the media to senior government officials including Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, the (then) director-general of Public Service Tan Sri Ismail Adam and (then) Housing Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri (now Tan Sri) Ahmad Fuad Ismail.

My presentation was brief: If you yourself are unsure about what to say, then don't say anything at all. And never say “no comment” due to its negative implications. If you are only allowed to say so much, say so and explain why: “We are still discussing and we do not have full details yet, but we are talking to all stakeholders. Nothing is definite.”

This should have been the message given by the Health Ministry.

Now, the government is seen to be reacting to negative reaction following 1Care and falling over itself to salvage the people's confidence. 1Care after all — with all it's perceived good intentions and benefits — comes at a bad time — what with the NFCorp issue and the RM1.5 billion loan from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to fund the PR1MA My First Home Scheme.

The fact that government spending in healthcare is below the recommended World Health Organisation's (WHO) budget — as explained by some detractors is also a question that the government does not immediately have answers to.

If it wants to shove such controversial policies down our throats, the government must be prepared to open the books and be forthright with ancillary questions:

Where is the RM11 billion in annual healthcare spending going? Why is there a cartel of sorts controlling our pharmaceuticals when an open market system would mean cheaper healthcare? Why are there many government hospitals but they lack equipment? Why is there still a long queue for consultation and prescriptions and a long waiting list for the use of equipment such as basic scanners and MRIs? Why are we losing many good doctors and top healthcare staff to other countries? Why should one be compelled to contribute to 1Care when one has medical insurance that gives him or her top-notch private healthcare? Just who are the 12 or so individuals/companies that have submitted proposals?

It is pertinent that there are answers to these questions if our take-home pay is going to be much less and the people would want to know who ultimately benefits — the rakyat or a few Sendirian Berhads which are going to be laughing all the way to the bank.

Now that is bound to make one sick to the stomach!


By: Terence, managing editor (news)
Twitter at @TerenceFnandez





Rasuah: Bekas Pengarah JPAM kekal dipenjarakan



Comment: Thinking about joining the police, FRU, and army, as part-time recruit, and contribute to combat crime! The top commander is on the crime list?!


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Rasuah: Bekas Pengarah JPAM kekal dipenjarakan

ALOR SETAR 12 Feb. - Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini mengekalkan hukuman penjara tiga tahun dan denda RM21,200 ke atas bekas Pengarah Jabatan Pertahanan Awam (JPAM) Kedah, Mohamad Abdullah bagi dua kesalahan rasuah, tujuh tahun lalu.

Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman, Mohd. Zaki Abdul Wahab memutuskan demikian selepas menolak rayuan Mohamad, 52, untuk mengenepikan sabitan dan hukuman yang dijatuhkan ke atasnya oleh Mahkamah Sesyen di sini.

Pada 29 Julai tahun lepas, Mohamad dijatuhi hukuman penjara tiga tahun dan denda RM11,200 atau enam bulan penjara jika gagal membayar denda itu bagi tuduhan pertama dan penjara dua tahun dan denda RM10,000 atau empat bulan penjara bagi tuduhan kedua.

Mohd. Zaki dalam penghakimannya berkata, tiada alasan untuknya menerima rayuan itu kerana beliau mendapati hukuman yang diputuskan Hakim Mahkamah Sesyen itu sebelum ini tidak melampau (berat).

Sehubungan itu, katanya, sabitan dan hukuman penjara dan denda yang dijatuhkan ke atas Mohamad kekal dan hukuman itu berjalan serentak.

Mohamad disabitkan dengan kesalahan memberi satu dokumen bertarikh 16 Februari 2005 kepada seorang pembantu tadbir JPAM negeri yang mengandungi butiran palsu memperakukan bahawa pembekal makanan, Mohd Roshid Hussain telah menyediakan 70 tempahan makanan untuk peserta Latihan Pertahanan Awam Unit Giat Mara Sungai Tiang berjumlah RM2,240 pada 17 hingga 20 Mac 2005, sedangkan tiada bekalan sedemikian.

Dia juga didapati bersalah melakukan perbuatan sama dengan memperakukan bahawa Mohd Roshid, 35, telah menyediakan 80 tempahan makanan untuk peserta Latihan Asas Intensif Unit Giat Mara Sungai Tiang berjumlah RM1,920 pada 19 hingga 21 Mei 2005.



Mahkamah tolak permohonan PTPTN untuk batalkan saman



(13 FEB 2012)

Mahkamah tolak permohonan PTPTN untuk batalkan saman
KUALA LUMPUR: Mahkamah Sesyen hari ini menolak permohonan Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Negara (PTPTN) untuk membatalkan saman yang dikemukakan oleh seorang peminjam PTPTN.

Hakim Unaizah Mohd memutuskan plaintif mempunyai sebab untuk mengambil tindakan terhadap defendan (PTPTN) untuk saman itu dibicarakan. Hakim menetapkan empat hari dari 9 April untuk mendengar kes itu. Beliau juga menetapkan 5 Mac bagi pengurusan kes untuk kedua-dua pihak memperincikan dokumen mereka sebelum perbicaraan.

Plaintif dijadual memanggil dua saksi manakala defendan akan memanggil tiga saksi.

Pada 20 September tahun lalu, pegawai bank Mandeep Singh memfailkan saman itu di Pejabat Pendaftar Mahkamah Sesyen Sivil terhadap PTPTN bagi memfitnah dan ditahan secara salah selepas beliau disenarai hitam atas dakwaan gagal melunaskan pinjaman pelajarannya.

Mandeep, 27, menuntut RM19,000 sebagai ganti rugi khas bagi tiket penerbangan dan tempahan hotel, faedah, kos dan relif lain yang difikirkan sesuai oleh mahkamah.

Mandeep berkata di bawah perjanjian pinjaman pelajaran bertarikh 9 November 2006,PTPTN bersetuju meminjamkan RM48,000 kepadanya.

Beliau mendakwa beliau telah ditahan pegawai Imigresen di Terminal
Penerbangan Tambang Murah di Sepang pada 6 Julai tahun lepas semasa beliau mahu
berlepas untuk bercuti di Guangzhao, China.

Katanya beliau dimaklumkan oleh pegawai imigresen berkenaan yang namanya telah disenarai hitam dalam pangkalan data imigresen.

Bagaimanapun, beliau berkata PTPTN gagal memadamkan namanya daripada pangkalan data itu walaupun beliau telah memaklumkan kepada PTPTN untuk berbuat demikian.

Susulan kejadian itu, beliau mendakwa dirinya telah diaibkan di depan orang ramai dan mencemarkan imejnya.

Peguam Abdul Malik Hakim mewakili Mandeep manakala peguam Farhan Abdullah mewakili PTPTN. - Bernama