[23 May 2011]  – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and Human Rights Now express their great concern regarding the case of Mr. Charles Hector Fernandez, a Malaysian human rights lawyer, activist and blogger. We were informed that Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd., subsidiary of Asahi Kosei Japan Co. Ltd., filed a [ Read more ]

The Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI) sent an open letter to the chairperson of Malaysia’s National Human Rights Institution (SUHAKAM) to act on the defamation case against Mr Charles Hector, a human rights defender who blogged about alleged human rights abuses against Burmese migrant workers employed by the Asahi Kosei (M) [ Read more ]

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) received information regarding a law suit being filed against Mr. Charles Hector Fernandez, a Malaysian human rights lawyer, activist and blogger over defamation. Mr. Hector raised concerns on his blog and via twitter about human rights and labour rights violations of 31 Burmese migrant workers of [ Read more ]

Open Letter to the Government of Malaysia for the protection of the rights of children and sexual minorities His Excellency Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin Ministry of Education Block E8, Complex E, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62604, Putrajaya, Malaysia cc. Tan Sri Hasmy Agam, Chairperson, SUHAKAM 22 April 2011 Your Excellency, The Asian Forum for Human [ Read more ]

16th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Tuesday, 8 March 2011   Thank you, Mr. President. FORUM‐ASIA and its member organization in Malaysia, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), welcome the report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on its mission to Malaysia (A/HRC/16/47/Add.2). [1] [ Read more ]

The Arrest of Mr. Selvach Santhiran, a Witness to Police Brutality in Malaysia 29 October 2010 The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) received information from Malaysia about the arrest of Mr. Selvach Santhiran, a witness to the torture and subsequent death of a victim while in the custody of Malaysian police authorities. [ Read more ]

The month of August 2010 did not start well for Human Rights Defenders in Malaysia. Since the beginning of the month, Human Rights Defenders have been subject to a series of harassment incidents. There is validity in raising concerns regarding these incidents as it may signal a turn towards even more repression against human rights [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA, together with its members in Malaysia and Singapore, SUARAM and Think Centre, and other NGOs, appeal for your support in campaigning for clemency for Yong Vui Kong, a Malaysian arrested in Singapore for drug trafficking when he was 18 years old. On January 2009, the Singapore court delivered the death sentence to Yong, which [ Read more ]

A report released by a fact-finding mission investigating the rapes of indigenous Penan women in Sarawak, Malaysia has touched off various reactions from different Malaysian government agencies, ranging from denials of the rapes, pledges of investigation, and a visit by the Malaysian Prime Minister to the indigenous territory. A report released by a fact-finding mission [ Read more ]

From 19 to 21 July 2010, FORUM-ASIA will organise the pilot training on engaging with the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in Kuala Lumpur, co-organised with SUARAM, FORUM-ASIA member in Malaysia. It aims to build capacity of civil society organisations in Malaysia to engage with the newly formed AICHR. This pilot training is also a prior step to finalise the [ Read more ]