APSN | Hands Off SUARAM!

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Hands Off SUARAM!

Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM) Statement - September 19, 2012

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Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) calls upon Najib to stop the vendetta against SUARAM and instead portray his bravery in defending himself in the French courts on the Scorpene scandal. It is time for the Prime Minister to clear his name and the many dubious companies involved in the Scorpene scandal rather than to stoop so low in going after SUARAM – a leading human rights organisaton in the country and in the world.

It is also time for Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to shut up then making a fool of himself. How can a Minister already declare and announce that SUARAM will be charged when the investigation by CCM was on going while the AG has not yet seen the report. Isn't this whole plot so obviously politically motivated?

What SUARAM does and what accounts it uses to raise money is all in their website. Everything is so clear and transparent. There is nothing confusing and misleading. What has been confusing and misleading to most Malaysians are things like the Scorpene, NFC and PKFZ scandal.

SUARAM is not the first organization to be registered under the Companies or Business Registrar and it will not be the last. As long as the freedom of Association is denied, organization will find other ways to operate legally. PSM knows this fact very well as we had been denied registration as a political party for more than 10 years. It is a known fact that the Home Minister's controlled Registrar of Society (ROS) has no tolerance for parties who oppose the ruling party and will never give these organization a permit to operate. Many NGOs in Malaysia register themselves as Business and Companies to get registered to give them a legal entity, simply because business is allowed to flourish without restriction but not democratic rights and freedom.

One year ago on Malaysian Day, Najib portrayed to the world that he is a true reformist by abolishing the ISA, the Emergency Ordinance and a few more draconian laws. Exactly one year now, he shows to the world that he does not mean it by attacking SUARAM - the leading human rights voice in the country. (SUARAM was the first organisation to receive the Human Rights award from SUHAKAM)

Najib will do everything for his survival. Yesterday it was BERSIH, today it is SUARAM and tomorrow WHO? It is time to consolidate and unite against the oppressor. Be assured, that SUARAM will not be alone in this fight. HANDS OFF SUARAM !

Released by

S. Arutchelvan
Secretary General PSM
Tel: 019-2537791