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:
- Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)
- Tenaganita
- Lawyers for Liberty (LFL)
- Persatuan Sahabat Wanita
- Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
- Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
- Pusat KOMAS
- Perak Women for Women (PWW)
- Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
- Community Action Network (CAN)
- Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
- Aliran
- LLG Cultural Development Centre
- Coalition of Kelantan NGOs
- Civil Right Committee KLSCAH
- Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
- Serdang Bharu School Alumni Youth Section
- Sisters in Islam (SIS)
- Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
- Bersihkan Malaysia Perth
- People’s Green Coalition
- Borneo Resources Institute, Malaysia
- OHMSI (Oriental Hearts and Mind Study Institute)
- Sabah Women’s Action Resource Group
- All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
- Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)
- Angkatan Warga Aman Malaysia(WargaAMAN)
- Malaysian Indians Progressive Association (MIPAS)
- Malaysian Youth Care Association (PRIHATIN)
- People’s Welfare and Rights Coalition (POWER)
- Malaysian Indians Transformation Action Team (MITRA)
- Angkatan Nasional India Malaysia (AGNI)
- Kill the Bill
- Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section
- Persatuan Komuniti Prihatin Selangor & KL
- Serdang Bharu School Alumni Youth Section
- LLG (Lim Lian Geok) Cultural Developement Centre Berhad Melaka
- Himpunan Hijau
- Group of Concerned Citizens
- Malaysian Indian Development Association
- Malaysian Association of Indian University Graduates
- Malaysian Indian Historical Association
- Malaysian Indian Youth Development Foundation
- World Tamil Federation – Malaysian Chapter
- Indian Malaysian Active Generation (IMAGE)
- Persahabatan Semparuthi
- Child Development Initiative
- Academy of Tamil Studies
- Council of Temples Malaysia
- Japan Graduates’ Association of Malaysia
- Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
- Community Development Centre (CDC)
- Malaysia Youth & Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)
- Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM)
- Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM)
- Northern Green Youth
- Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM)
- Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall (NSCAH)
- Centre for Policy Initiative (CPI)
- Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF)
- United Chinese School Alumni Association of Malaysia (UCSAAM)
- Save Our Sungai Selangor (SOS Selangor)
- Global Bersih
- SABM Australia (SABMoz)
- Malaysians for Beng Hock
- 528 Media Action Group
- Friends in Conversation (FIC)
- Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)
- The Micah Mandate
- Save Vui Kong Campaign
- MyOverseasVote (MOV)
- Friends of Kota Damansara
- Writers’ Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
- Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM)
- Sinui Pal Nanuk Sngik, Perak (SPNS)
- National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
- The Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (PROHAM)
- Persatuan Seni Rumah Air Panas KL
- Jaringan Orang Asal Se-Malaysia (JOAS)
- Pahang Raub Ban Cyanide in Gold Mining Action Committee (BCAC)
- Persatuan Alumni PBTUSM KL & Selangor
- Jingga 13
- Sarawak Keruan Organisation
- Kampung Bukit Peninjau
- PDBT
- PPU
- Indigenous People Development Centre (IPDC)
- Kampung Bukit Limau-Sungai Nat
- Pekan Kenowit
- SILOP
- PANGAU
- WADESA (Persatuan Wanita Desa Sarawak)
- IPIMAS
- Persatuan Penduduk Balingan Satu (PPBS)
- ADC MERADONG-JULAU
- Jaringan Orang Asal Baram
- TAHABAS
- Rumah Rajang dan Tatu (RATA)
- JKKK Pusat Krokong.
- Tring-Kameh
- Jawatankuasa Tindakan Rakyat Baram (JTRB)
- Jawatankuasa Bertindak Rumah Ampau
- Jawatankuasa Bertindak Hak Kg. Spaoh-Benat
- Jawatankuasa Bertindak Melindungi Hak Kawasan Penduduk Tutoh-Apoh
- MEBUSA
- Sarawak Indigenous Youths Network (SYIN)
- JKKK Pusat Jagoi
- Pertubuhan Rakyat PUSAKAG
- Pertubuhan Rakyat TONIBUNG
- Pertubuhan Rakyat MONUNGKUS
- Pertubuhan Rakyat GOMPITO
- Pertubuhan Rakyat JGPT TONGOD
- Pertubuhan Rakyat TINUNGKUSAN
- Pertubuhan Rakyat G5 SIMBUAN
- Pertubuhan Rakyat TINIPOT
- Pertubuhan Rakyat PIROTON DAGALING
- Pertubuhan Rakyat NOKIIKITO
- Pertubuhan Rakyat MUKAKAS
- Pertubuhan Rakyat MAMAKAT
- Pertubuhan Rakyat BALAT-KUAMUT
- Pertubuhan Rakyat G5 MANGKAWAGO
- Pertubuhan Rakyat AARP ULU SENAGANG-MONGOOL
- Pertubuhan Rakyat MONGOPUD
- Pertubuhan Rakyat ALAB LANAS
- Pertubuhan Rakyat G8 KOMOKITUKOD
- KELAB BELIA KAMPUNG GANA (KBKG)
- Pertubuhan Rakyat G14 TELUPID
- Pertubuhan Rakyat G5 ULU TOMANI
- Pertubuhan Rakyat KAWAKAHAN
- G4- KANIBUNGAN
- Pertubuhan Rakyat NAMBAYAN
- Pertubuhan Rakyat SINUNGKALANGAN
- Gabungan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI)
- Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia (IKRAM)
- Bruno Manser Foundation (BMF)
- Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA)
- Sibu Bersih
< li>Persekutuan Alumni Han Chiang Pulau Pinang