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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20 November 2020

MACC has arrested 28 Immigration officers !!


SOURCE:

https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2020/11/642894/more-arrests-involving-syndicate-which-caused-serious-breach  (20 NOV 2020)  

More arrests involving syndicate which caused 'serious breach' in country's borders

By Audrey Dermawan - November 20, 2020 


PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested another four people who caused a serious breach in the country's borders.

The four, aged between 28 and 52, were the latest syndicate members nabbed by the graftbuster yesterday.

Sources said one of the four nabbed was an Immigration officer while the other three were foreign worker agents.

"Following investigations, it was found that the syndicate involved an international crime smuggling syndicate from China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Bangladesh.

"The counter setting process at the Kuala Lumpur International Arport (KLIA) and klia2 was done by international syndicate who comprised agents in their respective countries," he said.

It was reported recently that the MACC had busted a syndicate involving Immigration Department officers which caused a serious breach in the country's borders.

So far, MACC has arrested 28 Immigration officers for facilitating the movement of illegal immigrants and foreign workers.

Also nabbed were 17 foreign worker agents and five civilians.

All of them were arrested following a sting operation codenamed Ops Selat by the MACC, with the help of the Immigration Department.

The suspects before this, aged between 21 and 46, were arrested at various locations in Putrajaya, Selangor, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak

Elaborating, the source said any visitor who had been blacklisted and wanted to enter Malaysia would be managed by the syndicate, where their details such as name, passport number and travel itinerary will be handed over to the agents here.

"These agents will then contact the Immigration officers in KLIA and klia2 for the counter setting to help the blacklisted foreign workers and foreign visitors to easily enter Malaysia.

"This also applies to those who are leaving the country, including those blacklisted, those with expired social visit passes and forged passports.

"Only selected counters at KLIA and klia2 will be used by these foreign workers and visitors," he added.

The source said more than RM800,000 in cash was seized along with 26 luxury vehicles and four high-powered motorcycles.

Also seized were houses, land, jewelleries and others.

"What is shocking from our probe is that an Immigration personnel, with a KP 19 grade, is able to possess four luxury vehicles such as a Roll Royce Phantom, a Mustang, a Range Rover and an Audi.

"The vehicles were registered under the names of two Chinese nationals, believed to be agents operating in Malaysia and two local agents," he said, adding that they have been identified.

The source also said that one of the local agents helped to keep the vehicles, and only used by the Immigration personnel as a repayment for handling the counter setting at klia2.

MACC Investigations director Datuk Norazlan Mohd Razali did not discount the possibility that there will be more arrests.

"All those detained will be investigated under Section 16 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti- Terrorism Financing Act 2001," he added.


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