Articles

Pusat KOMAS contemplates and writes about the situation of race, ethnicity, interracial relations etc. in Malaysia.

The 59 Civil Society Organisations Media Statement on Hudud Law

May 5, 2014

We, the civil societies below representing multiethnic and multi-faith, hold that Malaysia was formed as a secular federation in 1963 and hudud law at state-level is unconstitutional unless the entire federal arrangement is renegotiated. Hence, it is grossly incorrect and inappropriate for a matter of such paramount importance to be dealt with by the Federal Parliament voting on a Private Member’s Bill or even by any State Legislature. Our full position is as follows: 1. Malaysia was formed by...

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MEMORANDUM TO SUHAKAM: DROP THE CHARGES AGAINST LENA HENDRY, STAFF OF PUSAT KOMAS

Apr 29, 2014

Background On the evening of July 3, 2013, Pusat KOMAS, together with the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Civil Right Committee (KLSCAH CRC), organized a private screening of “No Fire Zone”, a documentary on the former war in Sri Lanka, directed by British Director Callum Macrae. The screening was organized at the request of Callum Macrae who was on a road show screening his documentary in various countries. Before arriving in Malaysia, he showed the film in Australia and after...

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Call for entries for FreedomFilmFest 2014

Apr 2, 2014

Petaling Jaya, Malaysia: FREEDOMFILMFEST(FFF), an annual human rights film festival organised by Malaysian human rights NGO, Pusat KOMAS, is now calling for film entries. Established in 1993, with the running theme, “Dare To Document”, FFF is the most established annual human rights film festival in Malaysia and showcases a variety of eye opening, daring, award winning films that are not easily accessible on mainstream media. This festival is the birthplace of many Malaysian activists and...

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Freedom Film Fest Screening in ASEAN People’s Forum (APF) in Myanmar

Mar 26, 2014

Freedom Film Fest Screening was held during the ASEAN People's Forum, Myanmar in collaboration with Equality Myanmar. The screening was done over two days in Myanmar Convention Centre (MCC) from 9.30 am - 12.30 pm as a side event. 6 different films the ASEAN region were shown with the themes of women empowerment, land rights, housing rights, right to food, free and fair elections and sexuality rights. An average of 150 people attended the two day screenings and there were discussions after the...

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Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of Malaysia

Mar 20, 2014

25th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 6 General Debate Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of Malaysia Thank you Mr. President, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and Pusat Komas, a member of COMANGO-Coalition of Malaysian NGOs for UPR, an organization which works to promote huamn rights in Malaysia, welcome the UPR Report on Malaysia which includes a number of positive recommendations to create a more enabling environment for civil society....

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Dispatches: Film Censorship Case Puts Malaysia’s Rights Record in the Dock

Feb 4, 2014

As a member of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva from 2011 to 2013, Malaysia had plenty of opportunities to hear serious allegations of systematic army abuses in the final days of the civil war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Ultimately, a commission appointed by the UN Secretary-General determined that up to 40,000 civilians died in the last months of the fighting, and Britain’s ITN Channel 4 brought the brutal final days into high definition with its searing...

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Hearing in High Court to strike out the charges against Lena Hendry

Jan 30, 2014

Our lawyers filed an application in High Court last year to strike out the charges against Lena Hendry. The case now will be heard in High Court on the 6th of February. Please show your support by attending the hearing Date: 6th February 2013 Time: 9am Place: Duta High Court Specific Court: KL Criminal High Court 2 Judge: Kamardin Hashim J Background: Lena Hendry was charged for an offence under the Film Censorship Act 2002, in connection with the screening of a video which was not vetted and...

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FORUM: Freedom of Religions in Malaysia : We Live in Peace and Harmony

Jan 10, 2014

  Dear All,   Please do come and join us for this forum jointly co-organized by Pusat KOMAS, Community Action Network (CAN) and Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)   Please pass the word out and invite friends to join in.   Forum  “Freedom of Religions in Malaysia : We Live in Peace and Harmony”   Speakers :   1.        YB Khalid Abdul Samad (PAS MP for Shah Alam) 2.        Dr. Ahmad Farouk Musa ( Islamic Renaissance Front) 3.        Rev Hermen Shastri (Council of Churches Malaysia) 4.      ...

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Malaysia: Ongoing judicial harassment against Ms. Lena Hendry

Nov 8, 2013

New information MYS 001 / 0713 / OBS 064.3  Judicial harassment Malaysia November 7, 2013 The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Malaysia. New information: The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the ongoing judicial harassment...

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