Why Court of Appeal upheld ‘Gay is OK!’ book ban in 2-1 decision

Malay Mail | Here’s a quick summary what happened with the book ban and why, based on the Court of Appeal’s majority and minority judgments released last month, and the High Court’s decision, as well as other documents. Lawyers Edmund Bon and Micheal Cheah are representing the book author and publisher.

Labour: Waiting for the business and human rights action plan

The Edge Malaysia | Edmund Bon stressed that mandatory due diligence for labour, governance, and the environment must be implemented. Human rights due diligence should be made in to law. He urged companies to work on initiatives to protect human rights without waiting for the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAPBHR).

Writer, publisher make final bid to challenge ‘Gay is OK’ book ban

Free Malaysia Today | Lawyer Edmund Bon confirmed that an application with 11 legal and constitutional questions has been filed with the Federal Court to remove a book ban imposed by the government. Applicants must satisfy the court by framing novel legal and constitutional questions that are of public importance and raised for the first time, as required under section 96 of the Courts of Judicature Act.

Nicotine delisting violates constitutional right to health: Lawyer

CodeBlue | The deregulation of liquid nicotine contravenes the right to health which falls fall under the right to life. Citing international conventions ratified by Malaysia, Edmund Bon submitted in court, “I’m inviting, my Lord, to extend the definition of Article 5 [of the Federal Constitution] for the first time to include the right to health as a right that is logically an integral part of life itself.”

‘Selling vapes, e-cigs to minors now illegal after smoking control bill passed’

Scoop | The high court here today was told that with the passing of the smoking control bill last week, vendors cannot sell smoking products to minors. Three NGOs, represented by counsel Edmund Bon, have filed a judicial review application to quash part of the Poisons (Amendment of Poison List) Order made by the Health Ministry and to seek a declaration that the impugned order is void.

Illegal to sell nicotine products to minors after anti-smoking bill passed – SFC

The Sun | Three NGOs filed a judicial review application to quash the order made by the Health Minister to remove nicotine from the list of controlled substances. Counsel Edmund Bon submitted that the newly passed bill controlling smoking products has yet to be ratified into law by the Dewan Negara. There is as yet no law against the sale of liquid nicotine products to children.

Minister’s delisting of nicotine as poison endangers children, says lawyer

Free Malaysia Today | Lawyer Edmund Bon said that the Health Minister’s decision to declassify liquid nicotine as a scheduled poison had failed to take into consideration the rights of children or the country’s obligations under the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Earlier media reports had highlighted that candy laced with nicotine was being sold openly to children.

Anti-smoking bill ‘red herring’ in nicotine delisting: Lawyer

CodeBlue | Anti-tobacco groups argued in the High Court here today that passage of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 was irrelevant to the declassification of liquid nicotine from the Poisons List. Counsel Edmund Bon said that we cannot rely on any statements by the government in relation to this judicial review proceedings because nothing is certain.

Parliament already passed bill forbidding vape sale to minors – counsel

Malaysiakini | Counsel Edmund Bon represented the three NGOS behind the judicial review — the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control, the Malaysian Green Lung Association, and Voice of the Children. He argued that the Health Minister’s decision would lead to the sale of nicotine-containing vape and e-cigarettes to children because there was no law forbidding it, pending the Dewan Negara’s deliberation on the new bill.

CJ warns lawyers against incendiary comments in Kelantan shariah law dispute

The Edge Malaysia | CJ Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat reminded lawyers to refrain from making comments that would distort events — the hearing was not about undermining the shariah courts, but simply about the competency of the Kelantan Legislative Assembly to enact impugned provisions. The Malaysian Bar, represented by Edmund Bon, and Sisters in Islam’s counsel Fahri Azzat, supported the petition.

Mahkamah Persekutuan tangguh keputusan cabaran enakmen syariah Kelantan

Free Malaysia Today | Peguam Malik Imtiaz berhujah, dua set hukuman – mengikut undang-undang persekutuan dan enakmen syariah Kelantan – terhadap orang Islam bersifat “diskriminatif”. Orang Islam didakwa di bawah enakmen itu tidak dapat memanggil saksi bukan Islam bagi membantu pembelaan. Badan Peguam dan Sisters in Islam menyokong pempetisyen dan diwakili Edmund Bon dan Fahri Azzat.

Apex court reserves judgment on shariah enactment challenge

Free Malaysia Today | Two women wants the Federal Court to declare 18 provisions contained in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019 as null and void. Lawyers Edmund Bon and Fahri Azzat, appearing for the Malaysian Bar and SIS, told the court they supported this petition because the state assembly has no power to enact the 18 provisions. The Federal Court reserved its ruling.

The extradition and death sentence conundrum

BFM | Does Sirul Azhar Umar, convicted for the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, still face the death penalty in Malaysia? Edmund Bon shared his insights on the matter.

A decade of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration

While the AHRD has provided a platform for dialogue on human rights and has facilitated certain engagement initiatives, its limitations underscore ASEAN’s ongoing challenges in prioritising human rights. These shortcomings raise significant questions about the AHRD’s relevance and its overall impact within the ASEAN region.

Appellate court bans gay book again after govt appeal

The Edge Malaysia | The Court of Appeal reimposed a ban on a 2013 publication following a majority 2-1 decision. While the majority judges said the minister has the right to impose the ban based on possible adverse effects, the dissenting judge found the ban unlikely to cause prejudice to public order. Counsel Edmund Bon Tai Soon and Michael Cheah appeared for the author and publisher.

Why Court of Appeal upheld ‘Gay is OK!’ book ban in 2-1 decision

Malay Mail | Here’s a quick summary what happened with the book ban and why, based on the Court of Appeal’s majority and minority judgments released last month, and the High Court’s decision, as well as other documents. Lawyers Edmund Bon and Micheal Cheah are representing the book author and publisher.

Labour: Waiting for the business and human rights action plan

The Edge Malaysia | Edmund Bon stressed that mandatory due diligence for labour, governance, and the environment must be implemented. Human rights due diligence should be made in to law. He urged companies to work on initiatives to protect human rights without waiting for the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAPBHR).

Writer, publisher make final bid to challenge ‘Gay is OK’ book ban

Free Malaysia Today | Lawyer Edmund Bon confirmed that an application with 11 legal and constitutional questions has been filed with the Federal Court to remove a book ban imposed by the government. Applicants must satisfy the court by framing novel legal and constitutional questions that are of public importance and raised for the first time, as required under section 96 of the Courts of Judicature Act.

Nicotine delisting violates constitutional right to health: Lawyer

CodeBlue | The deregulation of liquid nicotine contravenes the right to health which falls fall under the right to life. Citing international conventions ratified by Malaysia, Edmund Bon submitted in court, “I’m inviting, my Lord, to extend the definition of Article 5 [of the Federal Constitution] for the first time to include the right to health as a right that is logically an integral part of life itself.”

‘Selling vapes, e-cigs to minors now illegal after smoking control bill passed’

Scoop | The high court here today was told that with the passing of the smoking control bill last week, vendors cannot sell smoking products to minors. Three NGOs, represented by counsel Edmund Bon, have filed a judicial review application to quash part of the Poisons (Amendment of Poison List) Order made by the Health Ministry and to seek a declaration that the impugned order is void.

Illegal to sell nicotine products to minors after anti-smoking bill passed – SFC

The Sun | Three NGOs filed a judicial review application to quash the order made by the Health Minister to remove nicotine from the list of controlled substances. Counsel Edmund Bon submitted that the newly passed bill controlling smoking products has yet to be ratified into law by the Dewan Negara. There is as yet no law against the sale of liquid nicotine products to children.

Minister’s delisting of nicotine as poison endangers children, says lawyer

Free Malaysia Today | Lawyer Edmund Bon said that the Health Minister’s decision to declassify liquid nicotine as a scheduled poison had failed to take into consideration the rights of children or the country’s obligations under the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Earlier media reports had highlighted that candy laced with nicotine was being sold openly to children.

Anti-smoking bill ‘red herring’ in nicotine delisting: Lawyer

CodeBlue | Anti-tobacco groups argued in the High Court here today that passage of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 was irrelevant to the declassification of liquid nicotine from the Poisons List. Counsel Edmund Bon said that we cannot rely on any statements by the government in relation to this judicial review proceedings because nothing is certain.

Parliament already passed bill forbidding vape sale to minors – counsel

Malaysiakini | Counsel Edmund Bon represented the three NGOS behind the judicial review — the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control, the Malaysian Green Lung Association, and Voice of the Children. He argued that the Health Minister’s decision would lead to the sale of nicotine-containing vape and e-cigarettes to children because there was no law forbidding it, pending the Dewan Negara’s deliberation on the new bill.

CJ warns lawyers against incendiary comments in Kelantan shariah law dispute

The Edge Malaysia | CJ Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat reminded lawyers to refrain from making comments that would distort events — the hearing was not about undermining the shariah courts, but simply about the competency of the Kelantan Legislative Assembly to enact impugned provisions. The Malaysian Bar, represented by Edmund Bon, and Sisters in Islam’s counsel Fahri Azzat, supported the petition.

Mahkamah Persekutuan tangguh keputusan cabaran enakmen syariah Kelantan

Free Malaysia Today | Peguam Malik Imtiaz berhujah, dua set hukuman – mengikut undang-undang persekutuan dan enakmen syariah Kelantan – terhadap orang Islam bersifat “diskriminatif”. Orang Islam didakwa di bawah enakmen itu tidak dapat memanggil saksi bukan Islam bagi membantu pembelaan. Badan Peguam dan Sisters in Islam menyokong pempetisyen dan diwakili Edmund Bon dan Fahri Azzat.

Apex court reserves judgment on shariah enactment challenge

Free Malaysia Today | Two women wants the Federal Court to declare 18 provisions contained in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019 as null and void. Lawyers Edmund Bon and Fahri Azzat, appearing for the Malaysian Bar and SIS, told the court they supported this petition because the state assembly has no power to enact the 18 provisions. The Federal Court reserved its ruling.

The extradition and death sentence conundrum

BFM | Does Sirul Azhar Umar, convicted for the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, still face the death penalty in Malaysia? Edmund Bon shared his insights on the matter.

A decade of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration

While the AHRD has provided a platform for dialogue on human rights and has facilitated certain engagement initiatives, its limitations underscore ASEAN’s ongoing challenges in prioritising human rights. These shortcomings raise significant questions about the AHRD’s relevance and its overall impact within the ASEAN region.

Appellate court bans gay book again after govt appeal

The Edge Malaysia | The Court of Appeal reimposed a ban on a 2013 publication following a majority 2-1 decision. While the majority judges said the minister has the right to impose the ban based on possible adverse effects, the dissenting judge found the ban unlikely to cause prejudice to public order. Counsel Edmund Bon Tai Soon and Michael Cheah appeared for the author and publisher.