09 Aug 10 | Index Index, minipost
Police arrested 38 people in Selangor, Penang and Kelantan who were part of a nationwide candlelight vigil which was held to denounce the 50th year of the Internal Security Act (ISA) on 1 August.
The ISA targets any person who “has acted, is about to act, or is likely to act in any way manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia.” According to the act, the police can detain anyone for up to 60 days without trial without access to a lawyer.
28 Jul 10 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
On 27 July, a Selangor court imprisoned a man for a week and fined 11 others after they protested against the construction of a Hindu temple with a severed cow’s head. All 12 pleaded guilty to the charge of “illegal assembly” and were fined 1000 ringgit (£202) whilst two men were also convicted of sedition and fined a further 3,000 ringgit (£606) for stamping and spitting on the cow’s skull. The rally took place in August 2009, in response to a proposal to build a Hindu temple in a Muslim neighbourhood. An alternative site was eventually chosen for the place of worship.
26 Jul 10 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
On 21 July 2010, clerics announced that Malaysian Muslims should not wear Manchester United football shirts because the devil emblazoned on the badge is un-Islamic. Condemnation also extended to the strips of Brazil, Norway, Serbia, Portugal and Barcelona, because their crests contain crosses. Prominent Islamic cleric Nooh Gadot described the jerseys as “very dangerous” adding that Muslims “should not worship the symbols of other religions or the devil”.
Fans reacted angrily on social networking sites, accusing the clerics of supporting United’s arch rivals Liverpool. However, despite their disapproval, Islamic authorities have stated that there are no plans to issue an edict making the shirts illegal.
16 Jul 10 | Index Index, minipost
A fourth newspaper has been forced to close in Kuala Lumpur following the government’s crackdown on publishing licenses. The suspension of Hakhah’s printing office follows the closure of the newspapers Suara Keadilan, Kabar Era Pakatan and Rocket on 30 June. Suara Keadilan, a leading critical voice in Malaysia, is reported to have been shut down for “publishing false news that could incite public unrest”. Local activists claim that Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government is attempting to silence critical publications ahead of national elections. Media regulators state they are applying broadcasting law uniformly.
