PEOPLE'S MANIFESTO INITIATIVE
Organising Committee
Bosses Group, Ex-ISA Detainees Group, Gabungan Rumah Panjang,
Group of Concerned Citizens, Jawatankuasa Sokongan Peneroka Bandar,
Majlis Graduan Malaysia, Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan,
Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor, Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat,
Women's Agenda for Change, Women's Candidacy Initiative
Press Statement
14 Jan 2000
Re: Current Arrests and Charged by Polices Appear To Be Yet The Another Nail In The Coffin of Democracy:
The Organising Committee of the People's Manifesto Initiative condemns the recent actions by the police in detaining and charging various people under draconian laws such as the Sedition Act and the Official Secrets Act. These arrests appear to be yet another nail in the coffin of democracy in this
country. We wish to point out using a few examples of how the police actions are undemocratic and against the interests of the ordinary peace-loving Malaysian.
Karpal Singh is being charged because of a statement that he made as a Defense Counsel in a court case. The limitations of free speech of Malaysians appears to be increasing if a lawyer can be charged for a comment made in the line of duty in court. We regret that the authorities have resorted to this form of "muzzling", and regret further that the newly elected government has remained silent on was appears to be a new wave of repression.
Marina Yusoff is being charged under the Sedition Act for making a comment about the May 1969 incident. The Malaysian people are not naive, and should be free to hear and decide for themselves based on any opinions or arguments they receive. They have shown time and again that they are mature enough to handle differences of opinion where race relations are concerned. However, this maturity has not been given the due respect. We are also distressed that while people in the opposition are being branded and hounded as people who incite racial ill-will, those who tried to incite racial disharmony by putting offensive statements and advertisements during the recent
elections have got away. The two police reports that we made concerning this have not come up with anything. Is the Sedition Act being used to settle scores rather than to protect the Malaysian people from the threat of violence?
Is the arrest of Zulkifli Sulong also another indication that this government will continue to put a lid on freedom of expression? The popularity of Harakah is an indication to the government that a sizable part of the populace wants alternative news. Instead of acknowledging this and allowing the media
to be free, the government is resorting once again to intimidation. We record our regret at this action to curb the freedom of the Malaysian media. We demand that such harassment of the media in any form, such as the denial of printing permits must stop immediately.
The arrest of Ezam under the Official Secrets Act is another case in point. We regret that the police and all other authorities concerned are failing to carry out investigations of allegations of wrong conduct of people in government. Instead the complainants are arrested. Is the government making it its policy to treat all complaints as nuisance and prosecute complainants?
The above make it urgent for us to reiterate our call for change as stated in the People's Manifesto. The country needs to discard all laws that infringe on the civil and political rights of people. The government needs to mature and learn to take criticism positively. We call upon the Inspector- General of Police and the Home Minister to review their actions and stop the harassment of the Malaysian people through unwarranted arrests.
Irene Xavier, spokesperson
People's Manifesto Organising Committee
