Bar Council needs to step up fight against sexual harassment, says activist

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.

Union wants justice for hospital cleaners

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.

Absorb hospital cleaners to prevent exploitation, gov’t told

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.

Musa Aman freed of corruption, money laundering charges

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.

Wang diterima Musa Aman itu sumbangan dana politik — Peguam

Malaysiakini | Pertuduhan terhadap bekas KM Sabah 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.

Is one-day parliament sitting constitutional?

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.

Cops question journo over immigration raid tweets, says lawyer

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.

Federal gov’t cannot compel states to reopen economy in conditional MCO: Lawyers

Malaysiakini | The legal fraternity argued that the federal government is not legally empowered to compel states to reopen their economy during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO). Lawyer New Sin Yew said that Act 342 or its regulations do not empower the federal government to order industries in states to reopen. The CMCO regulation was worded in the negative in that it merely prohibits certain activities.

Court to hear on RM1.2 mil ‘golden handshake’ for aides to ousted MB Khalid

Free Malaysia Today | The Federal Court will hear next month an appeal by two then senior staff of former Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim on the order to return their ‘golden handshake’ payments amounting to RM1.2 million. Lawyer Edmund Bon, who is appearing for the applicants, submitted four legal questions, including on whether Menteri Besar Incorporated is a corporation sole or corporate aggregate.

‘Stop sending MCO violators to jail’

The Star | The Prisons Department has asked the judiciary to stop jailing violators of the movement control order to avoid overcrowding in prisons, which could lead to the spread of the coronavirus. Criminal lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad urged the Court take into account the unprecedented situation of the pandemic when meting out sentences.

Judges duty-bound to provide grounds for judgments, say lawyers

Free Malaysia Today | The Federal Court order to rehear a Thai national’s appeal against the death sentence sends an important message. Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad said it is the constitutional duty of judges to provide a speaking or reasoned decision for a verdict. This would inspire public confidence in the administration of justice.

The case against party hopping

BFM | New Sin Yew shared that the Federal Constitution only recognises elected representatives and not political parties, hence, the introduction of an anti-hopping law would require amendments to the Constitution. He also argued that the law might not violate one’s freedom of association as this freedom may be restricted on the grounds of public order and morality. In the past week, party-hopping has led to major disruption of public

Pakatan Harapan’s statutory declarations for Tun M

BFM | As the Istana Negara confirmed that Muhyiddin Yassin would be the eighth Prime Minister of Malaysia, New Sin Yew emphasised the importance of going back to the Dewan Rakyat for a confidence vote, through a transparent parliamentary process. Statutory declarations should not be relied upon as they have been abused in Malaysia and have paved the way for corruption and horse-trading.

Is Mahathir powerless now?

Rabbit Hole Magazine | A commentary on how Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad who seemed like the most powerful man in the country fell from grace within a week. New Sin Yew’s analysis on the Mahathir’s actions was quoted.

What an interim prime minister can do

BFM | New Sin Yew spoke about Tun Mahathir’s resignation and the possible scenarios that can unfold. The Prime Minister’s resignation will not be formalised until there is someone else who can command the confidence of the majority in Parliament, or if the Yang di-Pertuan Agong dissolves the House of Representatives.

SeedPeak welcomes Amer

SeedPeak | AmerBON’s lawyer-runner-triathlete, Amer Hamzah Arshad, is now sponsored by SeedPeak.

Bar Council needs to step up fight against sexual harassment, says activist

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.

Union wants justice for hospital cleaners

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.

Absorb hospital cleaners to prevent exploitation, gov’t told

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.

Musa Aman freed of corruption, money laundering charges

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.

Wang diterima Musa Aman itu sumbangan dana politik — Peguam

Malaysiakini | Pertuduhan terhadap bekas KM Sabah 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.

Is one-day parliament sitting constitutional?

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.

Cops question journo over immigration raid tweets, says lawyer

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.

Federal gov’t cannot compel states to reopen economy in conditional MCO: Lawyers

Malaysiakini | The legal fraternity argued that the federal government is not legally empowered to compel states to reopen their economy during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO). Lawyer New Sin Yew said that Act 342 or its regulations do not empower the federal government to order industries in states to reopen. The CMCO regulation was worded in the negative in that it merely prohibits certain activities.

Court to hear on RM1.2 mil ‘golden handshake’ for aides to ousted MB Khalid

Free Malaysia Today | The Federal Court will hear next month an appeal by two then senior staff of former Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim on the order to return their ‘golden handshake’ payments amounting to RM1.2 million. Lawyer Edmund Bon, who is appearing for the applicants, submitted four legal questions, including on whether Menteri Besar Incorporated is a corporation sole or corporate aggregate.

‘Stop sending MCO violators to jail’

The Star | The Prisons Department has asked the judiciary to stop jailing violators of the movement control order to avoid overcrowding in prisons, which could lead to the spread of the coronavirus. Criminal lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad urged the Court take into account the unprecedented situation of the pandemic when meting out sentences.

Judges duty-bound to provide grounds for judgments, say lawyers

Free Malaysia Today | The Federal Court order to rehear a Thai national’s appeal against the death sentence sends an important message. Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad said it is the constitutional duty of judges to provide a speaking or reasoned decision for a verdict. This would inspire public confidence in the administration of justice.

The case against party hopping

BFM | New Sin Yew shared that the Federal Constitution only recognises elected representatives and not political parties, hence, the introduction of an anti-hopping law would require amendments to the Constitution. He also argued that the law might not violate one’s freedom of association as this freedom may be restricted on the grounds of public order and morality. In the past week, party-hopping has led to major disruption of public

Pakatan Harapan’s statutory declarations for Tun M

BFM | As the Istana Negara confirmed that Muhyiddin Yassin would be the eighth Prime Minister of Malaysia, New Sin Yew emphasised the importance of going back to the Dewan Rakyat for a confidence vote, through a transparent parliamentary process. Statutory declarations should not be relied upon as they have been abused in Malaysia and have paved the way for corruption and horse-trading.

Is Mahathir powerless now?

Rabbit Hole Magazine | A commentary on how Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad who seemed like the most powerful man in the country fell from grace within a week. New Sin Yew’s analysis on the Mahathir’s actions was quoted.

What an interim prime minister can do

BFM | New Sin Yew spoke about Tun Mahathir’s resignation and the possible scenarios that can unfold. The Prime Minister’s resignation will not be formalised until there is someone else who can command the confidence of the majority in Parliament, or if the Yang di-Pertuan Agong dissolves the House of Representatives.

SeedPeak welcomes Amer

SeedPeak | AmerBON’s lawyer-runner-triathlete, Amer Hamzah Arshad, is now sponsored by SeedPeak.