On 17 October, activist Cheng Lee Whee from human rights group SUARAM in Johor was arrested under the ISA, making her the fourth person nabbed under the law since September this year. Police said Cheng was detained because she was "spreading information that could cause fear among the people". However, as with the arrest of [...]

Top activists from Indonesia issued a petition of protest to the Inspector General Police, Musa Hassan and Chair of the National Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) Abu Talib Othman in regards to the spate of ISA arrests recently. Spearheaded by the Indonesian Front for Civil and Political Rights, the activists also has organized a demonstration outside [...]

Civil society groups are against using laws to censure Ahmad Ismail, the UMNO chief in Penang who have made allegedly racial remark and remained adamant that he was being put under trial of the media. In a joint statement, the groups are worried that the habitual reliance on harsh laws to stiffle racial or political [...]

Independence means that the nation is free from any imposed political domination, citizens are sovereign and are masters of their own destiny. For that to be true, they must at least be able to think freely, express and exchange opinion, and, obtain and disseminate information without fear or favour.

Six civil society group, including the National Alliance of Bloggers and Centre for Independent Journalism have stated solidarity with blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who is now detained in the Sungai Buloh prison for charges under the Sedition Act. This is the fourth time the blogger was taken action against using this law. The group unanimously [...]

Human rights group SUARAM voiced concern and disagreement with the Federal Court's decision to throw out the application of Lina Joy, who claimed to be no longer a Muslim, to have "Islam" removed from her identity. The decision meant that Lina Joy is exempted from the protection for freedom of religion accorded in the Constitution.

Popular art and activitists come together for the KOMAS Freedom Film Fest 2005 in July.