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 February 2014

Former Top Cop sues AG, Govt, 10 Others for RM128.5 Million !



Source:  http://www.thesundaily.my/news/871447

Former top cop sues AG, govt, 10 others for RM128.5 mil




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KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 1, 2013): Former Bukit Aman Commercial Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Ramli Yusuff today filed a suit for RM128.5 million against the Attorney-General, a former Inspector-General of Police, the government and nine others for alleged malicious prosecution.
The suit was filed at the Office of the Civil High Court registrar through the legal firm, Messrs. Vin Partnership.
In the statement of claim, Ramli, 61, named Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, Tan Sri Musa Hassan, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the government and the Royal Malaysia Police as defendants.
The other five defendants named in the suit are deputy public prosecutors and police officers.
Ramli claimed that the defendants, with malicious intent and without reasonable cause, had investigated and prosecuted him in court on five charges under the MACC Act and another under the Penal Code.
He claimed that he was acquitted of all the charges between July 2009 and August 2010.
The former police officer claimed that his prosecution had caused damage to his reputation and career, as well as caused him hardship, inconveniences and losses.
He is seeking RM128.5 million in special, general, aggravated and exemplary damages, interests and cost. – Bernama


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Source:  http://www.thesundaily.my/news/890682

Lawyer sues AG and 10 others




KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 26, 2013): A lawyer has filed a multi million civil action suit against the Attorney General, former Inspector General of Police, Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner and seven others for malicious prosecution.
Rosli Dahlan filed the suit involving more than RM47 million on Friday at the Civil High Court here through Messrs Kumar Partnership.
He named Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, Tan Sri Musa Hassan, Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed, the MACC, Malaysian Government, Royal Malaysian Police, three deputy public prosecutors, a MACC investigation officer and a police officer as defendants.
In his statement of claim, he said the defendants conspired to arrest and charge him in court for a MACC case.
He said he was acquitted by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Dec 20, 2010. Rosli is seeking punitive, aggravated and exemplary damages totaling RM47 million, special damages of RM750,000, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court. – Bernama



Super Rich Cop ?!


Source:  http://www.thesundaily.my/news/966135

‘RM20m cop’ under probe



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KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 24, 2014): A senior police officer investigated with 59 others for corruption and money laundering in the last six months, had amassed RM20 million in several bank accounts.
A senior Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer who declined to be named, revealed to The Malaysian Insider, that the senior police officer could not account for the staggering amount in his possession.
"The investigators were shocked to discover the massive amount from this senior cop but we believe there is more to uncovered," the source said.
The 60 cops, the biggest number being investigated simultaneously by the MACC in recent times, are mostly high-ranking officers.
The task force, spearheaded by Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, comprises senior officials from the MACC, Bank Negara, the Inland Revenue Board, the National Registration Department, the Immigration Department, the Customs Department, the Securities Commission and the police.
The Malaysian Insider had reported on January 25 that a senior police officer, one of 60 cops under probe, is among several policemen brokering deals with the MACC to assist in fingering more crooked cops in return for immunity from prosecution.
"Investigators have discovered about 30 senior police officers who are living beyond their means. Many of these senior police officers were found to have at least RM1 million or more in their respective bank accounts. These officers did not even bother to hide their wealth," an official said.
The policemen were alleged to have collected bribes from operators of illegal businesses such as illegal gaming cybercafes, massage parlours and vice dens in the federal capital. Depending on the type of business, each operator paid between RM10,000 and RM50,000 a month to the policemen to avoid being raided.
Due to the probe, a senior police officer with a "Datuk" honorific was transferred to the Bukit Aman police secretariat.
The Datuk was questioned by the MACC which discovered more than RM6 million stashed away in various accounts.
However, the MACC official had told The Malaysian Insider then that the RM6 million was merely the tip of the iceberg.
As investigations intensified, MACC had also seized luxury vehicles, such as a Range Rover Evoque (worth RM400,000), Nissan Skyline (RM388,000), Toyota Vellfire (RM450,000), BMW 7-series (RM800,000) and Mercedes-Benz E-class (RM400,000) from the suspects.
Besides properties and luxury vehicles, police had also seized a substantial amount of money, jewellery and gold from some of the policemen.


21 February 2014

20 Terkaya di Malaysia



http://www.sinarharian.com.my/nasional/20-terkaya-di-malaysia-1.253228
(21 FEB 2014)

20 Terkaya di Malaysia

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KUALA LUMPUR - Robert Kuok, hartawan Malaysia yang berpangkalan di Hong Kong, kekal lelaki paling kaya di Malaysia dengan kekayaan RM54.48 bilion berbanding RM46.1 bilion tahun lepas, diikuti ahli perniagaan T. Ananda Krishnan dan tokoh perbankan Public Bank Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow.

Ananda, mengekalkan posisi kedua sejak 2004 dengan aset yang dimilikinya menerusi Usaha Tegas Sdn Bhd bernilai RM33.19 bilion, peningkatan sebanyak 0.88 peratus daripada RM32.90 bilion tahun lepas.

Hong Piow, kekal di tempat ketiga sejak tiga tahun lepas, dengan aset bernilai RM18.07 bilion, lapor Malaysian Business, majalah Perniagaan utama dalam terbitan 16 Februari.

Ia melaporkan gabungan kekayaan 40 individu paling kaya itu meningkat kepada RM217.82 bilion pada 18 Jan 2014 atau 11.73 peratus daripada RM194.86 bilion tahun lalu.

Semasa majalah itu mula menyenaraikan kekayaan 40 individu paling Malaysia pada 2002, gabungan jumlah aset mereka sebanyak RM41.7 bilion, dengan Robert Kouk Hock Nien berada di tempat teratas.

Majalah itu berkata tempat keempat dalam senarai itu ialah Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan melalui Hong Leong Group dan Guoco Group, dengan kekayaan bernilai RM14.11 bilion tahun ini.

Tempat ke-5 ialah Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng dari IOI Group yang melompat dari kedudukan keenam tahun lepas, mengatasi Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary yang jatuh ke tempat keenam.

Kekayaan Lee tahun ini berjumlah RM13.12 bilion, naik daripada RM10.56 bilion tahun lalu.   

Syed Mokhtar berada di tempat keenam walaupun kekayaan beliau meningkat sebanyak 4.43 peratus kepada RM11.07 bilion daripada RM10.6 bilion pada tahun lepas.

Ketua Genting Group Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay dan ibunya, Puan Sri Lee Kim Hua, mengekalkan kedudukan mereka, masing-masing di tempat ketujuh dan kelapan.

Kekayaan Lim meningkat 16.18 peratus kepada RM9.43 bilion manakala Lee meningkat sebanyak 3.2 peratus kepada RM7.47 bilion.

Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir melalui SapuraKenchana Petroleum berada di tempat kesembilan dengan aset bernilai RM4.22 bilion.

Tokoh perbankan Tan Sri Azman Hashim melalui Arab-Malaysian Corporation menduduki tempat ke-10 dengan aset bernilai RM4.11 bilion tahun ini.

Malaysian Business berkata antara fakta menarik ialah sejak 2002, 81 usahawan menyertai senarai 40 individu terkaya di Malaysia dan 15 berjaya kekal di atas secara berterusan.

Keseluruhannya, peningkatan kukuh kekayaan mereka boleh dikaitkan dengan sumbangan prestasi pasaran dan harga inflasi, dengan kekayaan mereka sebahagian besarnya berasaskan kepada pegangan masing-masing.

Ia juga menggambarkan prestasi syarikat-syarikat mereka dan pertumbuhan ekonomi Malaysia yang positif dalam tempoh 12 tahun.

Tahun ini terdapat 33 jutawan dalam senarai harta mencecah angka bilion, lebih dua daripada tahun lepas dan 29 daripada 40 dalam senarai merekodkan  lebih tinggi daripada tahun lepas.   

Daripada jumlah itu, 20 individu mencatatkan pertumbuhan lebih daripada 10 peratus.

Dua individu kembali memasuki senarai tahun ini, Datuk Tony Tiah dari TA Enterprise di tempat ke-38 dengan aset bernilai RM589.14 juta, manakala Tan Sri Rozali Ismail dari Puncak Niaga Holdings memasuki senarai 40 Teratas dengan RM543.74 juta.

Seperti tahun-tahun sebelumnya, kekayaan 40 Teratas dinilai berdasarkan nilai pegangan mereka dalam syarikat tersenarai pada 18 Januari 2014.

Malaysian Business majalah perniagaan utama di negara ini diterbitkan oleh Berita Publishing Sdn Bhd.    


SENARAI 20 INDIVIDU TERKAYA MALAYSIA 2013

Senarai
Sekarang       Nama                        Kekayaan (JUTA RM)             Syarikat    

1.      Robert Kuok Hock Nien                 54,480.00            Kerry Group/Kuok Group
2.      T Ananda Krishnan                        33,193.88            Usaha Tegas
3.      Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow                  18,066.20            Public Bank
4.      Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan               14,110.81             Hong Leong Group
5.      Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng                13,115.37             IOI Group
6.      Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary    11,070.00            Al-Bukhary Foundation
7.      Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay                     9,434.18             Genting Group
8.      Puan Sri Lee Kim Hua                    7,467.00             Genting Group
9.      Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir               4,222.26             SapuraKencana Petroluem
10.     Tan Sri Azman Hashim                   4,108.45            Arab-Malaysian Corp
11.     Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King                 3,790.00            Rimbunan Hijau
12.     Ong Beng Sheng                           3,530.00            Hotel Properties Ltd
13.     Tan Sri Yeoh Tiong Lay                 3,220.83            YTL Group
14.     Tan Sri Lau Cho Kun                     3,120.67            Hap Seng Consolidated
15.     Tan Sri Shahril Shamsuddin           2,506.03            Sapura Group
16.     Datuk Shahriman Shamsuddin       2,468.65            Sapura Group
17.     Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah Fook Ling   2,153.15            Sunway Group
18.     Datuk Lee Yeow Chor                   2,033.81            IOI Group
19.     Lee Yeow Seng                            2,006.13            IOI Group
20.     Tan Sri Vincent Tan                      1,924.12             Berjaya Group


Source: Bernama



18 February 2014

Erra Fazira bercerai Talak Satu !


http://www.hmetro.com.my/articles/ErraFaziraberceraitalaksatu//Article?BeritaUtama  (18 Feb 2014)

Erra Fazira bercerai talak satu

Oleh Nor Azura Abdul Jalil
Shah Alam: Spekulasi rumahtangga membabitkan pelakon popular, Erra Fazira akhirnya terlerai apabila dia sah bercerai talak satu dengan suaminya, Engku Emran Engku Zainal Abidin di Mahkamah Tinggi Syariah, di sini.
Perceraian itu direkodkan dihadapan Hakim Syarie Mohammad Adib Husain selepas pasangan itu bersetuju untuk bercerai secara baik.
Bekas Ratu Cantik Malaysia 1992 itu memfailkan permohonan cerai secara baik dan permohonan hak penjagaan anak itu semalam masing-masing mengikut Seksyen 47 dan Seksyen 82 Enakmen Undang-Undang Keluarga Islam Selangor 2003.

Pasangan berkenaan bersetuju untuk menyerahkan hak penjagaan anak perempuan mereka, Engku Aleesya, 5, kepada Engku Emran.

Foto

FOTO keluarga Erra Fazira dan Engku Emran bersama anak mereka Tengku Aleesya sebelum pasangan itu disahkan bercerai secara baik, hari ini. FAIL NSTP

Bagaimanapun, Erra Fazira mendapat hak lawatan bermalam, cuti sekolah dan cuti perayaan yang diberikan secara bergilir-gilir.

Pada prosiding itu Erra Fazira, 40, diwakili peguam Ahmad Nazib Johari manakala Engku Emran, 39, diwakili peguam Roshdan Sujak Rafie.

Erra Fazira berkahwin dengan Engku Emran pada 25 Oktober 2007 di Restoran Puteri, Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

Sebelum ini Erra Fazira pernah mendirikan rumahtangga dengan anggota kumpulan KRU, Yusry Abdul Halim pada Jun 2003, namun perkahwinan mereka hanya mampu bertahan selama tiga tahun.








Bekas Pengurus MIMOS dijel 7 Tahun, Denda RM5 Juta !



http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Mahkamah/20140214/ma_02/Bekas-pengurus-MIMOS-dijel-7-tahun-denda-RM5j  (14 Feb 2014)

Bekas pengurus MIMOS dijel 7 tahun, denda RM5j


KUALA LUMPUR 13 Feb. - Bekas Pengurus Besar Kewangan MIMOS Bhd., Khairuddin Khalid dihukum penjara tujuh tahun dan denda lebih RM5 juta oleh Mahkamah Sesyen di sini hari ini setelah didapati bersalah atas lapan pertuduhan meminta dan menerima rasuah berjumlah lebih RM500,000, lebih 12 tahun lalu.

Khairuddin, 54, yang kini memegang jawatan Ketua Pegawai Operasi (COO) di sebuah syarikat teknologi maklumat (IT) swasta juga berdepan dengan hukuman penjara 64 bulan jika gagal membayar denda.

Hakim Ahmad Zamzani Mohd. Zain membenarkan permohonan Khairuddin untuk menangguhkan pelaksanaan hukuman penjara tetapi memerintahkan denda dibayar hari ini setelah mendapati tiada sebarang alasan istimewa untuk membenarkan penangguhan bayaran.

Khairuddin bagaimanapun gagal membayar denda tersebut dan dihantar ke Penjara Kajang.
Ahmad Zamzani menjatuhkan hukuman itu selepas mendapati pihak pembelaan gagal menimbulkan sebarang keraguan munasabah terhadap kes pendakwaan.

Dalam keputusannya, beliau berkata, keterangan pembelaan tertuduh hanyalah bersifat penafian, tidak berasas dan munasabah.

"Saksi pembelaan juga tidak menyokong pembelaan selain keterangan tertuduh juga adalah sesuatu yang difikirkan selepas kejadian," katanya.

Selain itu katanya, terdapat banyak isu yang tidak dapat dibuktikan dan hanya berdasarkan andaian semata-mata.

Khairuddin didakwa atas empat pertuduhan meminta untuk dirinya sendiri suapan melalui empat keping cek semuanya bernilai RM985,248 daripada Pengerusi Eksekutif Corporate Eight Asset Management Sdn. Bhd., Muhammad Khalid Ismail.

Daripada jumlah itu, tertuduh didakwa menerima RM502,002.37 sebagai upah kerana melaburkan dana pelaburan MIMOS Bhd. bernilai RM5.5 juta dengan syarikat pelaburan berkenaan. Bagi kesalahan itu, dia didakwa mengikut Seksyen 10(a)(bb) Akta Pencegahan Rasuah 1997 dan boleh dihukum mengikut Seksyen 16 akta yang sama.

Khairuddin juga menghadapi empat pertuduhan memperoleh rasuah daripada individu yang sama membabitkan jumlah dan tujuan yang sama, iaitu kesalahan di bawah Seksyen 11(a) dan boleh dihukum di bawah Seksyen 16 akta tersebut.

Seksyen 16 akta tersebut memperuntukkan hukuman penjara maksimum 20 tahun dan denda tidak kurang lima kali ganda jumlah suapan atau RM10,000 atau mana yang lebih tinggi.

Kesemua kesalahan itu dilakukan di pejabat Corporate Eight Asset Management Sdn. Bhd. yang beralamat di Suite 17.3-17.4A, Tingkat 17, Menara Weld, 76, Jalan Raja Chulan antara 23 Mei 2001 dan 8 Februari 2002.
Peguam Azi Azlin Zulkifli ketika mengemukakan permohonan penangguhan hukuman memberitahu, anak guamnya itu terlibat dalam projek pembinaan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur 2 (KLIA2) dan ketiadaan anak guamnya bakal menggugat kelancaran projek tersebut.

Terdahulu dalam rayuan sebelum hukuman dijatuhkan, Azi Azlin berkata, mahkamah perlu mengambil kira kesalahan pertama anak guamnya itu selain isteri tidak bekerja serta menyara ibunya sakit tua.

Pegawai Pendakwa dari Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM), Mohd. Nur Lokman Samingan pula memohon hukuman setimpal berbentuk pencegahan dan pengajaran untuk tertuduh dan masyarakat





NSTP diPerintah Bayar Husam RM360,000 !


http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Mahkamah/20140218/ma_05/NSTP-diperintah-bayar-Husam-RM360000  (18 Feb 2014)

NSTP diperintah bayar Husam RM360,000


KUALA LUMPUR 17 Feb. - Mahkamah Tinggi hari ini memerintahkan syarikat penerbitan akhbar, New Straits Times (M) Bhd. (NSTP) membayar ganti rugi RM360,000 kepada Naib Presiden Pas, Datuk Husam Musa kerana menyiarkan artikel berbaur fitnah terhadap beliau, hampir tujuh tahun lalu.

Hakim Datuk Su Geok Yiam menetapkan jumlah tersebut di kamar beliau di sini setelah mahkamah pada 12 April tahun lalu memutuskan bahawa satu kenyataan akhbar pada penghujung November 2007 telah memfitnah Husam.

Menurut peguam, Md. Yunos Shariff yang mewakili Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Salor itu, jumlah tersebut meliputi ganti rugi am, ganti rugi teladan, ganti rugi teruk dan kos.

Mahkamah turut membenarkan permohonan NSTP untuk menangguhkan sementara bayaran ganti rugi tersebut dengan syarat notis berhubung perkara itu difailkan pada atau sebelum 17 Mac ini.
Hadir bagi pihak NSTP ialah peguam Rishwant Singh.

Husam asalnya memfailkan saman RM6 juta pada 31 Januari 2008 terhadap ADUN Bukit Bunga, Mohd. Adhan Kecik dan ADUN Paloh, Datuk Nozula Mat Diah masing-masing dinamakan sebagai defendan pertama dan kedua serta NSTP defendan ketiga.

Bagaimanapun, pada 9 November 2009, bekas Exco kerajaan Pas Kelantan itu telah menarik balik saman tersebut terhadap Mohd. Adhan dan Nozula selepas kedua-dua ADUN itu membuat permohonan maaf secara terbuka pada awal Jun tahun sama di akhbar berbahasa Melayu (bukan Utusan Malaysia).

Kes terhadap NSTP diteruskan dengan perbicaraan dan pada 12 April 2013 mahkamah memutuskan bahawa Husam berjaya membuktikan tuntutannya terhadap syarikat penerbitan akhbar itu.