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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04 May 2016

PM, DPM commit additional RM3.5b to Sarawak !!



https://sg.news.yahoo.com/najib-committed-further-developing-sarawak-072000734.html


PM, DPM commit additional RM3.5b to Sarawak

BY AZDEE AMIR
The Malay Mail Online
May 4, 2016
KUCHING, May 4 ― Barisan Nasional (BN) is fully committed towards improving and developing Sarawak, BN chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today ahead of the May 7 state election.
 After chairing a Cabinet meeting here in Sarawak's capital, Najib pointed out that he and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had committed RM3.5 billion for various projects in the state.
“The Pan Borneo highway costing RM16 billion is another good example of the government's continued commitment to further improving and developing the state,” said Najib at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here.
Najib said that apart from forging good ties with incumbent Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem and other state leaders, it was not out of the ordinary to hold Cabinet meetings outside of Putrajaya.
“Let me state here that all the ministers have obligations and duties in every state, to hear and be mindful of the people's problems and grouses, while also monitoring the effectiveness of policies and projects that are implemented, so having the Cabinet meeting here is one such way of doing so,” he added.
Najib added that he has reminded Cabinet ministers on promises made to the people and has instructed them to follow through with such pledges.
“The government will monitor and closely observe on all the promises that have been made as it must be fulfilled, only then can the government stand tall because it has achieved success,” he said.




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