AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Canada

To:   Singapore/Malaysia Network 

Friends,

MALAYSIA

1. The crackdown on freedom of expression  has gone one step further: the blocking of critical websites such as The Malaysian Insider (TMI).  Josef Roy Benedict, deputy director of SE Asia and Pacific campaigns in Amnesty International's International Secretariat, spoke forcefully about such a ban, saying that the Malaysian Internet regulator does not have the authority to block a website without due process of law, and that the block was a "misuse of the criminal justice system".  He underlined that the authorities "must not use such restrictions to simply silence a critical voice".  Five TMI  staff have been questioned for four hours by police on this issue.  

Please see the link below. 

http://www.themalaysianoutsider.com/malaysia/article/law-doesnt-let-mcmc-block-websites-says-global-rights-group

2.  Advocacy for Anwar Ibrahim:   Jared Genser, Anwar's international counsel, reports that Anwar's daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar MP, recently undertook a visit to London and Geneva to seek high-level support for her father and also an end to repressive actions against the many sectors of society who dare to speak out. Those she met included UK officials, parliamentarians, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad and numerous ambassadors to the UN in Geneva.  

Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience and continues to call for his immediate and unconditional release.

Margaret John
Coordinator for Singapore and Malaysia