Malaysia: Human rights NGO/whistleblower harrassed by government
Event- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Jul 3, 2012
- Event Description
On 3 July, aroun 3pm, a group of officers from the Companies Commission Malaysia (CCM) led by Assistant Registrar, Azahari Ab Rahman, came to the office of SUARAM, human rights NGO with a notice to conduct an inspection. The team of CCM officers attempted to serve a Notice of Inspection pursuant to Section 7B(2) of the Companies Act 1965 to Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd. Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd is a business set-up linked to SUARAM. However, SUARAM staff pointed out that the notice was invalid as it was signed with the Assistant Registrar name designated as the Registrar. There was no indication that the notice was signed on behalf of the Registrar. Since the notice was invalid, the CCM officers informed the present SUARAM staff that they would return the next day at 10.30 am. The attempted inspection followed a complaint from the NGO Jaringan Melayu Malaysia. Its president Azwanddin Hamzah said that SUARAM was registered as a company and not as an NGO and alleged that SUARAM as such had collected a revenue of RM497,137 (approx.USD156,101) in 2009 and RM411,226 (approx. USD129,125) in 2010. SUARAM chairman K. Arumugam explained that the amounts mentioned by Azwanddin Hamzah came from donations and grants from private organisations and the public. The SUARAM website states as well that "SUARAM is funded by donations and grants from public and private sources. However, the most important source comes from private donations, local fund-raising events, sales of books and campaign merchandise. Funds are accepted strictly on the basis of non-interference of donors." On 4 July 2012, the directors, chairperson, secretariat members and staff of SUARAM together with their lawyers gathered at SUARAM's office around 10 am in anticipation of the CCM's visit. The team of CCM officers only arrived at the office around 5.53 pm. By that time some persons had already left SUARAM office because they did not expect the CCM officers to come anymore. The CCM officers could not serve four revised notices as the persons to whom the notices were addressed were not the office anymore. SUARAM staff offered to accept service on behalf of Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, but this was declined by the CCM officials. On 6 July 2012, SUARAM received the Notices of Inspection pursuant to Section 7B(2) and Section 7(11)(a) of the Companies Act 1965 from CCM The notices required directors, Dr. Kua Kia Soong and Dr. Yeoh Seng Guan to produce information and documents to the CCM on 13 July 2012. On 13 July 2012, SUARAM together with their lawyers were present at the CCM office. Given the short notice to produce all documents, SUARAM applied for an extension of time to compile and furnish the 4 year records for the CCM.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Event Location
Latitude: 3.10709
Longitude: 101.60826
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 3 July, aroun 3pm, a group of officers from the Companies Commission Malaysia (CCM) led by Assistant Registrar, Azahari Ab Rahman, came to the office of SUARAM, human rights NGO with a notice to conduct an inspection. The team of CCM officers attempted to serve a Notice of Inspection pursuant to Section 7B(2) of the Companies Act 1965 to Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd. Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd is a business set-up linked to SUARAM. However, SUARAM staff pointed out that the notice was invalid as it was signed with the Assistant Registrar name designated as the Registrar. There was no indication that the notice was signed on behalf of the Registrar. Since the notice was invalid, the CCM officers informed the present SUARAM staff that they would return the next day at 10.30 am. The attempted inspection followed a complaint from the NGO Jaringan Melayu Malaysia. Its president Azwanddin Hamzah said that SUARAM was registered as a company and not as an NGO and alleged that SUARAM as such had collected a revenue of RM497,137 (approx.USD156,101) in 2009 and RM411,226 (approx. USD129,125) in 2010. SUARAM chairman K. Arumugam explained that the amounts mentioned by Azwanddin Hamzah came from donations and grants from private organisations and the public. The SUARAM website states as well that "SUARAM is funded by donations and grants from public and private sources. However, the most important source comes from private donations, local fund-raising events, sales of books and campaign merchandise. Funds are accepted strictly on the basis of non-interference of donors." On 4 July 2012, the directors, chairperson, secretariat members and staff of SUARAM together with their lawyers gathered at SUARAM's office around 10 am in anticipation of the CCM's visit. The team of CCM officers only arrived at the office around 5.53 pm. By that time some persons had already left SUARAM office because they did not expect the CCM officers to come anymore. The CCM officers could not serve four revised notices as the persons to whom the notices were addressed were not the office anymore. SUARAM staff offered to accept service on behalf of Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, but this was declined by the CCM officials. On 6 July 2012, SUARAM received the Notices of Inspection pursuant to Section 7B(2) and Section 7(11)(a) of the Companies Act 1965 from CCM The notices required directors, Dr. Kua Kia Soong and Dr. Yeoh Seng Guan to produce information and documents to the CCM on 13 July 2012. On 13 July 2012, SUARAM together with their lawyers were present at the CCM office. Given the short notice to produce all documents, SUARAM applied for an extension of time to compile and furnish the 4 year records for the CCM.