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Daily Express
23 minutes ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Activists slam censorship of LGBTIQ materials
Published on: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 16, 2025 By: Yee Suet Mun, FMT Text Size: Amnesty International Malaysia and Justice for Sisters said censorship under the PPPA fosters discrimination, silences voices, and undermines public understanding. PETALING JAYA: Human rights groups have raised concerns over the censorship of LGBTIQ-related content in Malaysia, warning that it fuels marginalisation, social division, discrimination, and identity suppression. According to a joint report by Amnesty International Malaysia and Justice for Sisters, 13 LGBTIQ-themed items were banned under the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984 between 2020 and May 2025. These accounted for 42% of the 31 publications banned during that period. Advertisement The bans were distributed across the years as follows: two in 2022, four in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and two in the first five months of 2025. 'We see how morality, public order and national security are used to target LGBTIQ publications, but these are not legitimate justifications,' Justice for Sisters co-founder Thilaga Sulathireh told a press conference on the report's release. She added that the censorship had little to do with morality or safety, saying it was instead aimed at silencing and erasing the community. The report, titled 'Censorship of LGBTIQ Expressions under the PPPA', said the law had become a tool for state-sanctioned discrimination, in violation of international standards on freedom of expression and non-discrimination. It urged the home ministry to halt proposed amendments to the PPPA and instead develop a roadmap toward its repeal, among other recommendations. Amnesty International Malaysia's freedom of expression campaigner Kiran Kaur claimed that the PPPA was being misused to control public narratives and silence legitimate voices. 'Laws like the PPPA cannot be weaponised by authorities to silence LGBTIQ voices and promote harmful narratives rooted in discrimination,' she said, adding that such actions only deepened mistrust and stifled public discourse. Nalini Elumalai, senior programme officer at Article 19 Malaysia, said censorship in Malaysia was not new, but that its current scale was deeply worrying. She added that such censorship made young LGBTIQ people feel invisible and unsafe. 'Young LGBTIQ Malaysians grow up thinking they're alone, that there's something wrong with them. The erasure of their stories creates an unsafe environment. 'Children in Malaysia don't need protection from diversity, they need protection from violence and discrimination,' she said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
23 minutes ago
- General
- Daily Express
Central Sulawesi quake damages homes, no tsunami threat
Published on: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 16, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: Indonesia sits on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire', where the meeting of continental plates causes frequent seismic activity. Credit: Malaysian Meteorological Department's Facebook JAKARTA: A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Central Sulawesi province late Monday, damaging dozens of homes and affecting at least 20 families, authorities said. According to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the quake, which hit Poso regency at 9.52 pm local time, caused minor damage to 38 houses, but no casualties have been reported so far. Advertisement 'Assessment and data collection are still ongoing,' BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that local authorities were coordinating emergency responses and monitoring the situation. The quake's epicentre was located on land, about 67 kilometres southwest of Poso at a depth of 10 kilometres, and tremors were also felt in neighbouring areas, including North Morowali, East Luwu, and the city of Palopo. The earthquake posed no tsunami risk, Abdul Muhari added. Indonesia sits on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire', where the meeting of continental plates causes frequent seismic activity. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
an hour ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Chinese YouTuber fined RM800 for entering Parliament area
Published on: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 16, 2025 By: Ho Kit Yen, FMT Text Size: The magistrates' court sentenced Chinese YouTuber Li Zhechen to a RM800 fine, or in default one month's jail, for trespassing into Parliament. Kuala Lumpur: A Chinese YouTuber was fined RM800 by the magistrates' court here for trespassing into Parliament, a site gazetted as a protected area. Magistrate Arunjothy Selvaraju imposed the fine on Li Zhechen after he pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 5(1) of the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act 1959. Advertisement The offence carries a maximum penalty of RM1,000, or two years' imprisonment upon conviction. Li was ordered to serve a one-month jail sentence if he fails to pay the fine. According to the facts of the case, Li had on July 9 entered the Parliament compound to take photos and videos. He was arrested by police officers who were on duty that day. During mitigation, Li's lawyer Lee Ewe Kiang offered the court an apology on his client's behalf. Deputy public prosecutor Adiba Iman Hassan urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
an hour ago
- Daily Express
Defence in cop's murder trial gets 6 weeks to file new submissions
Published on: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 16, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Senior police officer Nazri Abdul Razak is accused of causing the death of student Zaharif Affendi Zamrie at Jalan Taman Jati 1, near Meru, between 12.05pm and 12.40pm on Dec 15, 2023. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: The defence in the murder trial of senior police officer Nazri Abdul Razak, who is accused of killing 17-year-old Zaharif Affendi Zamrie two years ago, has been given a new date to file its submissions. Counsel M Athimulan told the Ipoh High Court that the defence needed to review its previous submissions to focus on another section under the Penal Code that the prosecution is focusing on, Bernama reported. Advertisement 'Our submissions comprised both Section 300(c) and (d) of the Penal Code, but were more focused on Section 300(c). However, the prosecution's stand now is that they are relying on Section 300(d). 'This creates a need to revise our submissions. In view of that, we are seeking an adjournment to file this new submission, with the court's indulgence, in about six weeks,' he was quoted as saying. Section 300(c) states that culpable homicide is deemed murder if 'done with the intention of causing bodily injury' and if that injury could cause a person's death 'in the ordinary cause of nature'. Meanwhile, Section 300(d) states that it is murder if someone commits an act knowing that it is likely to cause death, even if there was no intention to kill. Judge GSP Bhupindar Singh gave the defence six weeks to file the new submissions, with the prosecution allocated four weeks after that to respond. He fixed Oct 1 and 2 for the full hearing of submissions. The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Afzainizam Abdul Aziz and Nasrul Hadi Abdul Ghani, while the accused was represented by lawyers Athimulan, Mior Faridalathrash Wahid, and Aiman Hakim Kamaruzzaman. Nazri is accused of causing the death of Zaharif, a student, at Jalan Taman Jati 1, near Meru, between 12.05pm and 12.40pm on Dec 15, 2023. The deputy superintendent from the Kedah police contingent headquarters was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty or up to 40 years in prison and at least 12 strokes of the rotan, upon conviction. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Express
Quick response clears fallen tree on Tuaran bypass
Published on: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 16, 2025 Text Size: Authorities clear the fallen tree on the road. - Pic by JBPM KOTA KINABALU: A fallen tree temporarily obstructed traffic along Tuaran Bypass road here on Wednesday morning. The Fire and Rescue Department received the call at 8.25am and arrived at the scene within eight minutes. Advertisement A total of 33 personnel from multiple agencies, including the Fire Department, police, APM, and JKR Globinaco, worked together to clear the road using chainsaws. No injuries were reported, and the operation concluded safely at 9.25am after the tree was fully removed. Authorities ensured the area was secure before wrapping up the response effort. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
