BFM | New Sin Yew argued that while certain rights such as the freedom of speech, assembly and association are not available to non-citizens under the Federal Constitution, no law states that criticism of the government is an offense. If Mohd Rayhan Kabir is deported although he did not commit any offense, the decision would be arbitrary, unlawful, and not up to international human rights standards.
Free Malaysia Today | A former tow truck operator was spared from the death penalty when the Court of Appeal set aside his murder conviction. Counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad explained that there was material contradiction in the prosecution’s case and proper evaluation of the evidence was not carried out.
BFM | The High Court found former Prime Minister Najib Razak guilty of all seven charges involving SRC International, for the misuse of office for personal gratification, money laundering and criminal breach of trust. New Sin Yew offered a legal perspective on the verdict and discussed whether Najib is likely to go to jail, what this means for his position as Member of Parliament for Pekan and his options for appeal.
Astro Awani | The night before former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s SRC trial verdict, New Sin Yew summarised key issues that the judge has to decide on. What was Najib’s role in obtaining the RM4 billion loan for SRC International? What was the purpose and treatment of the RM42 million in Najib’s bank account? What was Najib’s knowledge or state of mind regarding the RM42 million?
Free Malaysia Today | Lawyer New Sin Yew said it was common practice in criminal trials for the accused to sometimes request for the trial to be adjourned for various reasons, as Najib Razak did. Likewise, Amer Hamzah urged that a distinction be made between unlawful interference and mere communication between the three branches of government.
BFM | New Sin Yew noted that although the Immigration Act 1959/63 places power in the hands of the Director General (DG) to cancel permits of persons who threaten “public order, public security, public health or morality”, the power exercised by the DG must be reasonable and proportionate. Basic human rights principles of the freedom of speech and expression should be respected for all regardless of nationality or race.
Malay Mail | Under the Immigration Act 1959/63, the director general may revoke the passes of foreign nationals. Lawyer New Sin Yew agreed with others that this must be done with reason. There is no law that criminalises speech that damages Malaysia’s image. Criminal sanctions are meant to address more extreme actions such as incitement to violence.
Malaysiakini | Refugee rights activist Heidy Quah is being investigated under the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998. Her lawyer New Sin Yew decried the recent spate of police action against people who were just trying to highlight issues that could have been better handled.
Malaysiakini | A stateless e-sports athlete who was born in Malaysia is seeking a declaration that he is a citizen by operation of law. The judicial review application was filed by lawyer New Sin Yew, assisted by Chin Yuen Xin from AmerBON.
Malaysiakini | Reporters Without Borders (RSF) named South China Morning Post reporter Tashny Sukumaran among a list of 30 coronavirus “information heroes”. Tashny was questioned by police over her tweets regarding the 1 May immigration raid at Selangor Mansion. Lawyer New Sin Yew called it plain harassment.
Malaysiakini | AWL deputy president Meera Samanther lamented that nothing is being done to address sexual harassment within the legal fraternity. New Sin Yew agreed that policies and complaint mechanisms must be in place. Victims should not be afraid of sharing their stories; perpetrators should be afraid.
Free Malaysia Today | A national union for hospital cleaners claims that a government-linked subcontractor, hired to manage cleaning at public hospitals, is exploiting workers. Human rights lawyer Edmund Bon said the contract system meant that the cleaners would not enjoy the same benefits as someone employed as a permanent staff.
Malaysiakini | During a forum on the rights of hospital cleaners, lawyer Edmund Bon urged the government to protect frontliners who earned a low wage. Even when services are privatised, there should be a tripartite agreement, with the government also part of the contract.
The Star | The charges against former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman were baseless as the monies that became the subject matter of the prosecution were political donations from party supporters, donours, the public and Barisan Nasional or Umno, said Amer Hamzah Arshad. in a statement.
Malay Mail | Amer Hamzah said that Tan Sri Musa Aman’s 46 corruption and money-laundering charges were brought against the former Sabah chief minister as a form of political persecution.
Malay Mail | According to lawyer Amer Hamzah, the funds former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman was accused of receiving corruptly were not linked to any projects in Sabah, including logging concessions, but were instead political donations for Umno and Barisan Nasional.
Free Malaysia Today | The High Court freed former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman of his 46 corruption and money laundering charges in relation to timber concessions in the state. Lawyer Amer Hamzah said Musa was previously cleared by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Malaysiakini | Pertuduhan terhadap bekas Ketua Menteri Sabah Tan Sri Musa Aman adalah tidak berasas. Peguam Amer Hamzah Arshad yang mewakili Musa berkata jumlah wang yang menjadi subjek pendakwaan sebenarnya telah diperjelaskan semasa siasatan terdahulu sebagai sumbangan-sumbangan politik.
BFM | Is the separation of powers between the executive, legislature and judiciary being undermined? Is the excuse of COVID-19 valid, when the Parliament is allowed to make laws even under a state of emergency (Article 150, Federal Constitution)? Constitutional lawyer New Sin Yew spoke to BFM on these issues.
Malaysiakini | South China Morning Post’s Malaysia correspondent Tashny Sukumaran was questioned by federal police in relation to her tweets about a May 1 immigration raid in Kuala Lumpur. Lawyer New Sin Yew revealed that Tashny was questioned under the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, although she was tweeting in the course of duty. He called out the government for its assault on press freedom.
BFM | New Sin Yew argued that while certain rights such as the freedom of speech, assembly and association are not available to non-citizens under the Federal Constitution, no law states that criticism of the government is an offense. If Mohd Rayhan Kabir is deported although he did not commit any offense, the decision would be arbitrary, unlawful, and not up to international human rights standards.
Free Malaysia Today | A former tow truck operator was spared from the death penalty when the Court of Appeal set aside his murder conviction. Counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad explained that there was material contradiction in the prosecution’s case and proper evaluation of the evidence was not carried out.
BFM | The High Court found former Prime Minister Najib Razak guilty of all seven charges involving SRC International, for the misuse of office for personal gratification, money laundering and criminal breach of trust. New Sin Yew offered a legal perspective on the verdict and discussed whether Najib is likely to go to jail, what this means for his position as Member of Parliament for Pekan and his options for appeal.
Astro Awani | The night before former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s SRC trial verdict, New Sin Yew summarised key issues that the judge has to decide on. What was Najib’s role in obtaining the RM4 billion loan for SRC International? What was the purpose and treatment of the RM42 million in Najib’s bank account? What was Najib’s knowledge or state of mind regarding the RM42 million?
Free Malaysia Today | Lawyer New Sin Yew said it was common practice in criminal trials for the accused to sometimes request for the trial to be adjourned for various reasons, as Najib Razak did. Likewise, Amer Hamzah urged that a distinction be made between unlawful interference and mere communication between the three branches of government.
BFM | New Sin Yew noted that although the Immigration Act 1959/63 places power in the hands of the Director General (DG) to cancel permits of persons who threaten “public order, public security, public health or morality”, the power exercised by the DG must be reasonable and proportionate. Basic human rights principles of the freedom of speech and expression should be respected for all regardless of nationality or race.
Malay Mail | Under the Immigration Act 1959/63, the director general may revoke the passes of foreign nationals. Lawyer New Sin Yew agreed with others that this must be done with reason. There is no law that criminalises speech that damages Malaysia’s image. Criminal sanctions are meant to address more extreme actions such as incitement to violence.
Malaysiakini | Refugee rights activist Heidy Quah is being investigated under the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998. Her lawyer New Sin Yew decried the recent spate of police action against people who were just trying to highlight issues that could have been better handled.
Malaysiakini | A stateless e-sports athlete who was born in Malaysia is seeking a declaration that he is a citizen by operation of law. The judicial review application was filed by lawyer New Sin Yew, assisted by Chin Yuen Xin from AmerBON.
Malaysiakini | Reporters Without Borders (RSF) named South China Morning Post reporter Tashny Sukumaran among a list of 30 coronavirus “information heroes”. Tashny was questioned by police over her tweets regarding the 1 May immigration raid at Selangor Mansion. Lawyer New Sin Yew called it plain harassment.
Malaysiakini | AWL deputy president Meera Samanther lamented that nothing is being done to address sexual harassment within the legal fraternity. New Sin Yew agreed that policies and complaint mechanisms must be in place. Victims should not be afraid of sharing their stories; perpetrators should be afraid.
Free Malaysia Today | A national union for hospital cleaners claims that a government-linked subcontractor, hired to manage cleaning at public hospitals, is exploiting workers. Human rights lawyer Edmund Bon said the contract system meant that the cleaners would not enjoy the same benefits as someone employed as a permanent staff.
Malaysiakini | During a forum on the rights of hospital cleaners, lawyer Edmund Bon urged the government to protect frontliners who earned a low wage. Even when services are privatised, there should be a tripartite agreement, with the government also part of the contract.
The Star | The charges against former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman were baseless as the monies that became the subject matter of the prosecution were political donations from party supporters, donours, the public and Barisan Nasional or Umno, said Amer Hamzah Arshad. in a statement.
Malay Mail | Amer Hamzah said that Tan Sri Musa Aman’s 46 corruption and money-laundering charges were brought against the former Sabah chief minister as a form of political persecution.
Malay Mail | According to lawyer Amer Hamzah, the funds former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman was accused of receiving corruptly were not linked to any projects in Sabah, including logging concessions, but were instead political donations for Umno and Barisan Nasional.
Free Malaysia Today | The High Court freed former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman of his 46 corruption and money laundering charges in relation to timber concessions in the state. Lawyer Amer Hamzah said Musa was previously cleared by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Malaysiakini | Pertuduhan terhadap bekas Ketua Menteri Sabah Tan Sri Musa Aman adalah tidak berasas. Peguam Amer Hamzah Arshad yang mewakili Musa berkata jumlah wang yang menjadi subjek pendakwaan sebenarnya telah diperjelaskan semasa siasatan terdahulu sebagai sumbangan-sumbangan politik.
BFM | Is the separation of powers between the executive, legislature and judiciary being undermined? Is the excuse of COVID-19 valid, when the Parliament is allowed to make laws even under a state of emergency (Article 150, Federal Constitution)? Constitutional lawyer New Sin Yew spoke to BFM on these issues.
Malaysiakini | South China Morning Post’s Malaysia correspondent Tashny Sukumaran was questioned by federal police in relation to her tweets about a May 1 immigration raid in Kuala Lumpur. Lawyer New Sin Yew revealed that Tashny was questioned under the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, although she was tweeting in the course of duty. He called out the government for its assault on press freedom.
