Sg Kim Kim pollution trial begins

Malaysiakini | The trial on the Sungai Kim Kim chemical dumping case began in the Sessions Court in Johor Bahru today. Among the accused was Sim Wei Der from Singapore, represented by counsel Joshua Tay.

Unfair to compare Yazid Sufaat to LTTE suspects – Yazid’s lawyers

Malaysiakini | Responding to Klang MP Charles Santiago’s article comparing the SOSMA cases of Yazid Sufaat and the LTTE detainees, counsel Amer Hamzah, New Sin Yew, and Joshua Tay argued that those who oppose laws on detention without trial should oppose its use against everyone, regardless of race, religion or political ideology.

10 pakar undang-undang kaji hukuman gantian mati

Harian Metro | Bekas Ketua Hakim Negara Richard Malanjum mengetuai Jawatankuasa Khas Kajian Hukuman Gantian Terhadap Hukuman Mati Mandatori. Selain Richard, sembilan ahli jawatankuasa itu terdiri daripada pakar perundangan, termasuk Pengasas Bersama dan Pengarah Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR), Edmund Bon.

I saw who hit, used hot iron on Zulfarhan: Witness in UPNM student murder trial

New Straits Times | A witness in the murder trial of National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM) cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain told the High Court that he was certain who had hit and injured the victim because he had witnessed the incident. He was cross-examined by lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad who was representing the first and second accused in the trial.

Lawyers fear 12 charged for LTTE links will not receive fair trial

Malaysiakini | Lawyers, including New Sin Yew and Amer Hamzah Arshad, expressed concern that those charged for purported links to a now-defunct terrorist group may not receive fair trial. They pointed out the trials would be governed by the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA), which makes it easier for the prosecution to secure a conviction and is open to abuse.

Second accused apologises to Zulfarhan’s parents

Bernama | The trial of 18 students of Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) charged with injuring and murdering naval cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain turned emotional. During the proceedings, lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad, representing Muhammad Azamuddin, asked his client whether he had something to say to Zulharfan’s parents and this prompted the accused to make an apology.

Jho Low’s Cypriot passport

BFM | Constitutional lawyer New Sin Yew shared about Jho Low’s alleged Cypriot passport, the prohibition of dual citizenship for Malaysians, and what this means for Jho Low.

What happens next for assemblymen charged with terrorism related offence?

Malay Mail | Seremban Jaya assemblyman P. Gunasekaran and Gadek assemblyman G. Saminathan were charged with supporting a Sri Lankan militant group, which is now defunct. Human rights lawyer New Sin Yew weighed in on the positions of the elected representatives and the status of their habeas corpus application.

Ex-Sabah CM Musa freed of 5 corruption charges

Free Malaysia Today | The High Court acquitted former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman of five counts of corruption amounting to US$12.8 million. He was represented by AmerBON’s Amer Hamzah Arshad and Joshua Tay, together with Francis Ng and Ragunath Kesavan.

Group offers to help Putrajaya draft and review human rights laws

Free Malaysia Today | The Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR) has gathered a team of local and international experts, including our lawyers from AmerBON, to help Putrajaya review laws in five areas that concern human rights. The areas include freedom of assembly; freedom of expression and hate speech; anti-trafficking, anti-smuggling of people and modern slavery; nationality, statelessness and citizenship; and expanding civil society space for human rights

Rights group lists 4 amendments for Peaceful Assembly Act

Free Malaysia Today | There should be no need for consent or permission to organise assemblies in areas under local councils as these are public places. Edmund Bon Tai Soon noted that this was among other issues in the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012 highlighted for amendment by experts.

Can (and should) Malaysia sue Indonesia over transboundary haze?

Malay Mail | A lawsuit against Indonesia at the International Court of Justice over open burning might not be feasible. Instead, lawyers call for a new law to hold companies and individuals accountable. Lawyer New Sin Yew urged Malaysia to enact a Transboundary Haze Pollution Act to go after perpetrators responsible for haze pollution in the country.

Task force to study alternative to death penalty; ex-CJ to lead

Malaysiakini | The government has set up a special task force to study an alternative sentence to the mandatory death penalty. The special task force will be chaired by a former chief justice and its membership will include human rights lawyer Edmund Bon.

Politicians condemned for playing ‘civil service sabotage’ card

Malaysiakini | Edmund Bon criticised political leaders for using “civil service sabotage” as an excuse for delays in reform. Speaking on Malaysian regulations on freedom of speech and expression at the “Countering Hate Speech and Intolerance in Malaysia: Implementing the Rabat Plan of Action and UN Resolution 16/18” conference, Edmund also said that instead of legislating against hate speech, it is better to enact a “positive” law on freedom of

Court of Appeal allows former Sabah CM to get passport back

The Edge Markets | Former Sabah CM Musa Aman, who is facing 51 charges for receiving bribes and money laundering, has been allowed by the Court of Appeal to retrieve his passport to resume medical treatment overseas. This was disclosed by his lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad.

Sg Kim Kim pollution trial begins

Malaysiakini | The trial on the Sungai Kim Kim chemical dumping case began in the Sessions Court in Johor Bahru today. Among the accused was Sim Wei Der from Singapore, represented by counsel Joshua Tay.

Unfair to compare Yazid Sufaat to LTTE suspects – Yazid’s lawyers

Malaysiakini | Responding to Klang MP Charles Santiago’s article comparing the SOSMA cases of Yazid Sufaat and the LTTE detainees, counsel Amer Hamzah, New Sin Yew, and Joshua Tay argued that those who oppose laws on detention without trial should oppose its use against everyone, regardless of race, religion or political ideology.

10 pakar undang-undang kaji hukuman gantian mati

Harian Metro | Bekas Ketua Hakim Negara Richard Malanjum mengetuai Jawatankuasa Khas Kajian Hukuman Gantian Terhadap Hukuman Mati Mandatori. Selain Richard, sembilan ahli jawatankuasa itu terdiri daripada pakar perundangan, termasuk Pengasas Bersama dan Pengarah Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR), Edmund Bon.

I saw who hit, used hot iron on Zulfarhan: Witness in UPNM student murder trial

New Straits Times | A witness in the murder trial of National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM) cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain told the High Court that he was certain who had hit and injured the victim because he had witnessed the incident. He was cross-examined by lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad who was representing the first and second accused in the trial.

Lawyers fear 12 charged for LTTE links will not receive fair trial

Malaysiakini | Lawyers, including New Sin Yew and Amer Hamzah Arshad, expressed concern that those charged for purported links to a now-defunct terrorist group may not receive fair trial. They pointed out the trials would be governed by the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA), which makes it easier for the prosecution to secure a conviction and is open to abuse.

Second accused apologises to Zulfarhan’s parents

Bernama | The trial of 18 students of Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) charged with injuring and murdering naval cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain turned emotional. During the proceedings, lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad, representing Muhammad Azamuddin, asked his client whether he had something to say to Zulharfan’s parents and this prompted the accused to make an apology.

Jho Low’s Cypriot passport

BFM | Constitutional lawyer New Sin Yew shared about Jho Low’s alleged Cypriot passport, the prohibition of dual citizenship for Malaysians, and what this means for Jho Low.

What happens next for assemblymen charged with terrorism related offence?

Malay Mail | Seremban Jaya assemblyman P. Gunasekaran and Gadek assemblyman G. Saminathan were charged with supporting a Sri Lankan militant group, which is now defunct. Human rights lawyer New Sin Yew weighed in on the positions of the elected representatives and the status of their habeas corpus application.

Ex-Sabah CM Musa freed of 5 corruption charges

Free Malaysia Today | The High Court acquitted former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman of five counts of corruption amounting to US$12.8 million. He was represented by AmerBON’s Amer Hamzah Arshad and Joshua Tay, together with Francis Ng and Ragunath Kesavan.

Group offers to help Putrajaya draft and review human rights laws

Free Malaysia Today | The Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR) has gathered a team of local and international experts, including our lawyers from AmerBON, to help Putrajaya review laws in five areas that concern human rights. The areas include freedom of assembly; freedom of expression and hate speech; anti-trafficking, anti-smuggling of people and modern slavery; nationality, statelessness and citizenship; and expanding civil society space for human rights

Rights group lists 4 amendments for Peaceful Assembly Act

Free Malaysia Today | There should be no need for consent or permission to organise assemblies in areas under local councils as these are public places. Edmund Bon Tai Soon noted that this was among other issues in the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012 highlighted for amendment by experts.

Can (and should) Malaysia sue Indonesia over transboundary haze?

Malay Mail | A lawsuit against Indonesia at the International Court of Justice over open burning might not be feasible. Instead, lawyers call for a new law to hold companies and individuals accountable. Lawyer New Sin Yew urged Malaysia to enact a Transboundary Haze Pollution Act to go after perpetrators responsible for haze pollution in the country.

Task force to study alternative to death penalty; ex-CJ to lead

Malaysiakini | The government has set up a special task force to study an alternative sentence to the mandatory death penalty. The special task force will be chaired by a former chief justice and its membership will include human rights lawyer Edmund Bon.

Politicians condemned for playing ‘civil service sabotage’ card

Malaysiakini | Edmund Bon criticised political leaders for using “civil service sabotage” as an excuse for delays in reform. Speaking on Malaysian regulations on freedom of speech and expression at the “Countering Hate Speech and Intolerance in Malaysia: Implementing the Rabat Plan of Action and UN Resolution 16/18” conference, Edmund also said that instead of legislating against hate speech, it is better to enact a “positive” law on freedom of

Court of Appeal allows former Sabah CM to get passport back

The Edge Markets | Former Sabah CM Musa Aman, who is facing 51 charges for receiving bribes and money laundering, has been allowed by the Court of Appeal to retrieve his passport to resume medical treatment overseas. This was disclosed by his lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad.