Stop attacks against human rights defender, SUARAM

Press Statement

11 September 2012

Endorsed by 138 Civil Society Organizations

We, the undersigned NGOs, are gravely concerned with the comments made by the Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ismail Sabri Yaakob regarding human rights organisation SUARAM. The Minister is reported to have said that the financial accounts of Suara Inisiatif Sdn. Bhd, which is linked to SUARAM and currently undergoing investigation, are “highly suspicious”.

While we fully acknowledge that any allegations of irregularities in the financial accounts of an organisation can and must be investigated, we wish to remind the authorities to be impartial and fair in carrying out the investigation, as their first duty is to the Malaysian public, not to the government of the day.

  Moreover, as expressed in the recent press statements issued by SUARAM, the NGO has given its full cooperation to the various authorities involved. In fact, it is the authorities themselves such as PERKESO who do not seem to be on top of the investigation process, thus raising further suspicions of political motivation. We also wish to question why the Companies Commission Malaysia (CCM) has only launched its investigation now, after the president of Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) questioned SUARAM’s legitimacy as an NGO.

Once again, this raises doubts due to the timing as the on-going Scorpene submarine investigations by SUARAM have revealed tremendous discrepancies in the financial accounts of the government-linked companies involved.

We demand an immediate end to the harassment against human rights defender, SUARAM. We also strongly support SUARAM’s challenge to the government and its agencies to speedily inspect and investigate Perimekar Sdn. Bhd. and Terasasi Sdn. Bhd. and reveal its findings to the public in the same manner which they have handled the investigations against SUARAM.

We continue to stand in support of all those who work in defense of human rights and democracy in Malaysia and reiterate our full support for SUARAM.

Thank you.

 
Signed and supported by:

  1. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)
  2. Tenaganita
  3. Lawyers for Liberty (LFL)
  4. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita
  5. Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
  6. Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
  7. Pusat KOMAS
  8. Perak Women for Women (PWW)
  9. Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
  10. Community Action Network (CAN)
  11. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
  12. Aliran
  13. LLG Cultural Development Centre
  14. Coalition of Kelantan NGOs
  15. Civil Right Committee KLSCAH
  16. Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
  17. Serdang Bharu School Alumni Youth Section
  18. Sisters in Islam (SIS)
  19. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
  20. Bersihkan Malaysia Perth
  21. People’s Green Coalition
  22. Borneo Resources Institute, Malaysia
  23. OHMSI (Oriental Hearts and Mind Study Institute)
  24. Sabah Women’s Action Resource Group
  25. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
  26. Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)
  27. Angkatan Warga Aman Malaysia(WargaAMAN)
  28. Malaysian Indians Progressive Association (MIPAS)
  29. Malaysian Youth Care Association (PRIHATIN)
  30. People’s Welfare and Rights Coalition (POWER)
  31. Malaysian Indians Transformation Action Team (MITRA)
  32. Angkatan Nasional India Malaysia (AGNI)
  33. Kill the Bill
  34. Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section
  35. Persatuan Komuniti Prihatin Selangor & KL
  36. Serdang Bharu School Alumni Youth Section
  37. LLG (Lim Lian Geok) Cultural Developement Centre Berhad Melaka
  38. Himpunan Hijau
  39. Group of Concerned Citizens
  40. Malaysian Indian Development Association
  41. Malaysian Association of Indian University Graduates
  42. Malaysian Indian Historical Association
  43. Malaysian Indian Youth Development Foundation
  44. World Tamil Federation – Malaysian Chapter
  45. Indian Malaysian Active Generation (IMAGE)
  46. Persahabatan Semparuthi
  47. Child Development Initiative
  48. Academy of Tamil Studies
  49. Council of Temples Malaysia
  50. Japan Graduates’ Association of Malaysia
  51. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
  52. Community Development Centre (CDC)
  53. Malaysia Youth & Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)
  54. Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM)
  55. Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM)
  56. Northern Green Youth
  57. Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM)
  58. Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall (NSCAH)
  59. Centre for Policy Initiative (CPI)
  60. Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF)
  61. United Chinese School Alumni Association of Malaysia (UCSAAM)
  62. Save Our Sungai Selangor (SOS Selangor)
  63. Global Bersih
  64. SABM Australia (SABMoz)
  65. < li>Persekutuan Alumni Han Chiang Pulau Pinang

  66. Malaysians for Beng Hock
  67. 528 Media Action Group
  68. Friends in Conversation (FIC)
  69. Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)
  70. The Micah Mandate
  71. Save Vui Kong Campaign
  72. MyOverseasVote (MOV)
  73. Friends of Kota Damansara
  74. Writers’ Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
  75. Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM)
  76. Sinui Pal Nanuk Sngik, Perak (SPNS)
  77. National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
  78. The Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (PROHAM)
  79. Persatuan Seni Rumah Air Panas KL
  80. Jaringan Orang Asal Se-Malaysia (JOAS)
  81. Pahang Raub Ban Cyanide in Gold Mining Action Committee (BCAC)
  82. Persatuan Alumni PBTUSM KL & Selangor
  83. Jingga 13
  84. Sarawak Keruan Organisation
  85. Kampung Bukit Peninjau
  86. PDBT
  87. PPU
  88. Indigenous People Development Centre (IPDC)
  89. Kampung Bukit Limau-Sungai Nat
  90. Pekan Kenowit
  91. SILOP
  92. PANGAU
  93. WADESA (Persatuan Wanita Desa Sarawak)
  94. IPIMAS
  95. Persatuan Penduduk Balingan Satu (PPBS)
  96. ADC MERADONG-JULAU
  97. Jaringan Orang Asal Baram
  98. TAHABAS
  99. Rumah Rajang dan Tatu (RATA)
  100. JKKK Pusat  Krokong.
  101. Tring-Kameh
  102. Jawatankuasa Tindakan Rakyat Baram (JTRB)
  103. Jawatankuasa Bertindak Rumah Ampau
  104. Jawatankuasa Bertindak Hak Kg. Spaoh-Benat
  105. Jawatankuasa Bertindak Melindungi Hak Kawasan Penduduk Tutoh-Apoh
  106. MEBUSA
  107. Sarawak Indigenous Youths Network  (SYIN)
  108. JKKK Pusat Jagoi
  109. Pertubuhan Rakyat PUSAKAG
  110. Pertubuhan Rakyat TONIBUNG
  111. Pertubuhan Rakyat MONUNGKUS
  112. Pertubuhan Rakyat GOMPITO
  113. Pertubuhan Rakyat  JGPT TONGOD
  114. Pertubuhan Rakyat TINUNGKUSAN
  115. Pertubuhan Rakyat G5 SIMBUAN
  116. Pertubuhan Rakyat TINIPOT
  117. Pertubuhan Rakyat PIROTON DAGALING
  118. Pertubuhan Rakyat NOKIIKITO
  119. Pertubuhan Rakyat MUKAKAS
  120. Pertubuhan Rakyat MAMAKAT
  121. Pertubuhan Rakyat BALAT-KUAMUT
  122. Pertubuhan Rakyat G5 MANGKAWAGO
  123. Pertubuhan Rakyat AARP ULU SENAGANG-MONGOOL
  124. Pertubuhan Rakyat MONGOPUD
  125. Pertubuhan Rakyat ALAB LANAS
  126. Pertubuhan Rakyat G8 KOMOKITUKOD
  127. KELAB BELIA KAMPUNG GANA (KBKG)
  128. Pertubuhan Rakyat G14  TELUPID
  129. Pertubuhan Rakyat G5 ULU TOMANI
  130. Pertubuhan Rakyat KAWAKAHAN
  131. G4- KANIBUNGAN
  132. Pertubuhan Rakyat NAMBAYAN
  133. Pertubuhan Rakyat SINUNGKALANGAN
  134. Gabungan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI)
  135. Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia (IKRAM)
  136. Bruno Manser Foundation (BMF)
  137. Sarawak  Dayak Iban Association (SADIA)
  138. Sibu Bersih

 

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