PETALING JAYA (Sept 26, 2012): Amnesty International has called on Malaysian authorities to end “harassment and intimidation” on Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) after the civil liberties group was investigated over foreign funding.
“The government should respect Suaram’s right as a human rights organisation to seek and receive funding, rather than abuse its power to intimidate the group,” Amnesty said in a statement.
It cited Article 13 of the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, that “organisations have the right to to solicit, receive and utilise resources for the express purpose of promoting and protecting human rights”.
On Sept 18, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Suaram and its affiliate, Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, would be probed by the government.
He said the Registrar of Societies will take action against Suaram and Suara Inisiatif under the Societies Act 1966, while Bank Negara Malaysia will investigate Suaram under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 for anomalies related to its accounts.
“The rights to freedom of expression and to peaceful assembly and association are key human rights provided in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other internationally agreed instruments,” the Amnesty statement said.
Amnesty said this is not the first time the government has resorted to restricting the freedom of association, and clamping down on peaceful dissent.
Meanwhile, Ismail told reporters today that the Companies Commission of Malaysia has submitted a report on Suaram and Suara Inisiatif to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) for further investigation.
He however declined to reveal the details requested by the AGC. “I cannot reveal the details because it will influence initial perceptions towards the case. You have to ask the AG,” he said.
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