Rule of law, rule by law

By Ambiga Sreenevasan

I urge you to use this arsenal of knowledge and your passion for justice to fight for those who are downtrodden.

You have already heard of the events of July 9th in Malaysia. Whilst it brought out the worst in some, it brought out the best in others and this is where our hope lies.

JULY 23 — Good Morning! Chancellor, vice chancellor and graduating students.

It is so good to be back!

I am deeply moved by the conferment of this honour upon me. That it comes from my alma mater is especially significant for me. That it comes at this time is almost providential, for it allows me and all lawyers to reflect on our roles in the societies we live in.

AirAsia Moves Corporate HQ from KL to Jakarta

With all the troubles he has had over the last two months, the confirmation Friday that AirAsia, arguably Malaysia’s most vibrant private company, is moving its headquarters out of the country to Indonesia is one more blow.

Tony Fernandes, AirAsia’s group chief executive, confirmed the decision in Tokyo Thursday, saying the move is an effort to upgrade his company’s image as a regional Southeast Asian airline rather than just a Malaysian carrier.

Rosmah factor in Sabah Umno

In Sabah Umno, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's wife Rosmah Mansor,
strangely enough, seems to be an important factor in the battle between
party vice-president Shafie Apdal and Chief Minister Musa Aman.

TAWAU: Umno president Najib Tun Razak is a worried man and much afraid of his own shadow and, if rumours are to be believed, his wife’s clout within the party.

Within Umno there are three groups of “intelligentsia” – two official and one unofficial. Each group has been turning out their own reports.

But of interest to Sabah is the group which believes that in order for Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) to become a “better and reformed” party, it should be “dethroned” first.

“A dethroned Umno and BN can make a stronger comeback in the 14th general election… There will be better unity and appreciation of each other,” said a veteran Umno insider.

SAPP sues Kota Kinabalu City Hall

KOTA KINABALU: Opposition Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has sought legal redress over a signboard at its headquarters that the local authorities want dismantled.

The opposition party served a writ of summons on the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) for attempting to take down its Sabahtv.net signboard at the party’s headquarters here on the July 9 and again on July 11.

Thriving business at Tawau’s unofficial port Goverment subsidised rice, sugar and oil are sold in Kalimantan for a good profit and locals believe the authorities are supporting the racket.

Goverment subsidised rice, sugar and oil are sold
in Kalimantan for a good profit and locals believe
the authorities are supporting the racket.

By Luke Rintod of FMT
TAWAU: Alongside Tawau’s official port, there thrives an ‘unofficial’ sub-unit through which daily provisions are smuggled out to a nearby island shared by Indonesia.

According to a local businessman, the authorities are aware of the bags of ‘Beras Nasional’ rice, sugar and oil that are ‘exported’ to Pulau Sebatik – an island shared by Malaysia and Indonesia – but generally turn a blind eye.

Scorpene scandal: ‘Truth to surface soon’

GEORGE TOWN: The French investigative judge who will hear the case into the Scorpene submarine scandal will be picked in September and the truth will be exposed, said prominent human rights lawyer William Bourdon.

The Frenchman said he would then have smooth access to scrutinise all documents and interview major witnesses pertaining to the submarine deal between Malaysia and France.

Wikileaks: US envoy says Umno abused security laws, institutions

The leaked cable said that “in good times Umno can
aintain control by distributing power and money to
get what it wants (but) in bad times, it uses the stick.”

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 — The United States ambassador here told Washington in 2008 that Malaysia was facing a “political crisis” caused by Umno’s control and abuse of security institutions and national security laws to remain in power.

US ambassador James R. Keith said in a leaked cable, released by whistleblower site WikiLeaks through the Malaysia Today news portal that “in good times Umno can maintain control by distributing power and money to get what it wants (but) in bad times, it uses the stick, and for now that means intimidation.”

Bourdon's detention 'puts Malaysia back in limelight'

The arrest and imminent deportation of French rights lawyer William Bourdon today drew strong reaction from PAS's Kuala Selangor member of parliament Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, who said the news put the country back into international limelight following the coverage of Bersih's massive rally on July 9.

Dzulkefly (above) said had Bourdon been allowed to attend the events planned for him, there would not be much media publicity.

Indonesia's Dramatic Shift In Forest Policy

Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact

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Category: IP/IP Rights                                                                          Date: July 20, 2011

Indonesian Government Announces Dramatic Shift In Forest Policy; Commitment To Rights Of IPs, Communities

 13 July 2011 

Indonesian Government announces dramatic shift in forest policy; signals commitment to expand rights of communities, indigenous peoples

As major forestry conference opens in Indonesia, high-level government leaders commit to implement traditionalrights lost since colonial era

During a riveting keynote speech given at a global forestry conference in Lombok today, Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, head of the Indonesian President's Special Delivery Unit, announced the government's intention to prioritize the needs of its forest communities and to "recognize, respect and protect Adat rights," implementing legislation that has been on the books for ten years, but rarely implemented.

Cops admit firing into hospital, but not sorry

The police admit that their water cannon was fired into the compund but
denied that they had shot tear gas cannisters into the area.

KUALA LUMPUR:  The police admitted firing their water cannon into the Tung Shin hospital compound during the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9.

Internal Security and Public Order director Salleh Mat Rashid said that some tear gas might have trailed into the compound as well.