#lim chee wee

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New Post has been published on The Rakyat Post

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/01/14/soul-searching-ordering-20-men-arrest-lawyer-igp-urged/

'Do some soul searching on ordering 20 men to arrest lawyer, IGP urged

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14, 2015:

In ordering 20 policemen to arrest a human rights lawyer activist over a tweet, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has got his priorities wrong, a former Malaysian Bar president says.

Dubbing the arrest of Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) executive director Eric Paulsen as “ridiculous”, Centre For A Better Tomorrow (Cenbet) co-President Lim Chee Wee said the seriousness of the activist’s tweet is low in the pecking order of criminal offenses.

Paulsen was arrested by police at 9pm on Monday to facilitate investigations into his controversial tweet on the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim).

“I would suggest to the IGP to do some soul searching as the seriousness of Paulsen’s tweet is below than offences such as murder, rape, kidnapping and robbery,” Lim told reporters at the Global Movement of Moderates Foundation (GMM) headquarters, today.

Explaining that Paulsen’s tweet was debatable and should be open to discussion, Lim added that the solution lies not in criminalising speech.

“If you disagree with his tweet, say so and justify it. Where is the harm in what he said which should lead him to spend time in jail and have a criminal record?”

In explaining the methodology used to draft the National Harmony Bill, Lim said in order for speech to be a criminal offense, it should certify a threshold of intention which can lead to threats of physical harm.

“How dangerous is the remark deemed seditious, if at all seditious?” Lim asked.

Paulsen had last Friday accused Jakim of spreading extremism every Friday via its prepared sermons. This led to a public uproar, followed by a spate of police reports.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had also called for a probe into Paulsen’s tweet. Paulsen is set to be released today.

Meanwhile, in the spirit of debate and free speech, Lim said Cenbet is set to hold an open discussion for the public to quiz former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on his policies and take on current issues.

Titled, “The Malaysian Dilemma”, the event is set to be held on Feb 12 at Connexion @ Nexus, Bangsar South City, Jalan Kerinchi.

With registration being free, interested participants can head over to www.cenbet.org.my  to procure further information and register online.

[76crimes]

Malaysian anti-gay bias ban might lose soon, win later

Malaysian anti-gay bias ban might lose soon, win later

Lim Chee Wee (Photo courtesy of FreeMalaysiaToday.com)

Malaysia’s National Harmony and Reconciliation Bill 2014, which is in a draft stage, is facing a backlash from politicians opposed to outlawing discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation, said attorney Lim Chee Wee.

As a result, the bill’s drafters are considering whether to drop that language from the bill entirely.

Lim,…

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[therakyatpost]

New Post has been published on The Rakyat Post

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/05/07/isma-ignorant-federal-constitution/

'Isma is ignorant of Federal Constitution'

By Sean Augustin

KUALA LUMPUR, May 7:

Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) does not understand the Federal Constitution and the nation’s history, a National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) member said.

In branding remarks made by Isma president Abdullah Zaik Abdullah Rahman as “outrageous and racist”, Lim Chee Wee pointed out that Article 14 of the Federal Constitution stipulates that every person born before, on or after Malaysia Day and met the constitutional requirement was a Malaysian regardless of race, religion or gender.

“Therefore, no Chinese who is a Malaysian is a trespasser,” the former Bar Council president said.

Abdullah Zaik had yesterday declared that the coming of Chinese migrants, along with British colonisers, to Malaya as a form of intrusion.

In a statement, Abdullah Zaik had also accused the British of being in cahoots with the Chinese to oppress and bully the Malays.

Lim also highlighted the fact the Prime Minister had acknowledged the contribution of Chinese on two occasions, one on 25 Sept 2011 where Datuk Seri Najib Razak had said he took great pride in the role and contribution of Chinese in improving education in the country.

On May 3 this year, Najib had said the Chinese had made a massive contribution to the development of this country.

“Racism is on the rise in our country and the Prime Minister must act to put a stop to this,” he told The Rakyat Post.

In calling for action to be taken against the Isma president, MCA’s Datuk Ti Lian Ker pointed out that if DAP’s Teresa Kok could be charged for sedition, so could Abdullah Zaik  for stirring hatred and fanning the racial flames.

Kok was yesterday charged over her satirical video titled Teresa Kok ‘Onederful’ Malaysia CNY 2014, which her detractors slammed as insulting Islam and the Malays.

“It’s a retarded statement. Malaysia is the only country where one particular race tries to take ownership of the nation’s success,” Ti said when contacted, adding hopes that the authorities would stand firm on the issue and take action.

Ti, who is the party’s Religious Harmony Bureau chairman, said Abdullah Zaik’s argument also implied that the other non-Malays were also trespassers.

Meanwhile, Global Movement of Moderates chief executive officer Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah also called for authorities to investigate Abdullah Zaik and act accordingly, arguing that the latter’s statement was seditious.

“Stop the anti-Chinese and anti-Christian sentiments before it turns into something worse,” he tweeted.

Former Umno and PKR politician Datuk Zaid Ibrahim labelled Abdullah Zaik’s comments as “stupid and dangerous”, while the Prime Minister, he added, would not say anything.