Malaysia: Support full recognition of the PSM
Message from the Parti Sosialis Malaysia.
We are calling on all socialists for solidarity and support in our struggle for the right to exist as a Party. Below you will see the background to the application for registration finally reaching the courts on April 10th. We are organising a huge gathering outside the court on that day and we are also getting a number of organisations to do a watching brief.
The appeal below has addresses and e-mails to which you can send messages of protest and support. You can also send them to us to post on our website and circulate as well as to read out during our gathering. You need to send them before 7 April to give us enough time to print them out. You could send or post protest letters to the respective Malaysian embassies in your country.
Salam Perjuangan
S.Arutchelvan
Secretary General
PARTI SOSIALIS MALAYSIA CASE IN APPEAL’S COURT, 10 APRIL 2006 - PUTRAJAYA
How you can support and give solidarity:
1. Write/Fax/Email letters to the newly appointed Minister - Y.B. Dato’ Seri Mohd Radzi Bin Sheikh Ahmad.
Y.B. Dato’ Seri Mohd Radzi Bin Sheikh Ahmad.
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
Level 12, Block D1, Parcel D
Federal Government Administrative Centre
62502 Putrajaya
Malaysia
Tel: (603) 8886 8000
Fax: (603) 8889 1610
Website: http://www.moha.gov.my
E-mail: hamzah hamid@moha.gov.my
Please express your dissatisfaction on the behaviour of the Minister of Home Affairs and his ministry. Call upon him to Register PSM and restore democracy and respect the Constitution as well as Human Rights standards in Malaysia. Call upon the Ministry of Home Affairs (Malaysia) to ratify the registration of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and to recognise the rights of citizens to associate, as enshrined in the Constitution of Malaysia . The people of Malaysia should be given the right to decide the fate of PSM’s future, free from government collusion and intimidation. Urge the Malaysian government to respect the rights of PSM to associate freely and call for and end to their persecution.
2. Mobilise and join the many more who would attend the court case on the 10 April 2006 . If you want to do watching brief for the case, please notify us and we would discuss with our lawyers. Call (6)012-5057844
3. Send solidarity message which would be widely circulated to the media and to the people gathered on the 10th. April 2006 to give their solidarity. You can also send messages of support to: Parti Sosialis Malaysia, 47, Tingkat 3, jalan Dinar G, Seksyen U3, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia or by emailing psmhq@tm.net.my, arul.psm@gmail.com or alai4@tm.net.my. Of fax your letters to 603-87374772
PSM is a party born from years of grassroot struggles in factories, plantations and urban settlements. The party was formed as a mechanism for the poorer sections of society to fight for their rights and continues to challenge the corruption, collusion and racism of those in power. As long as the suffering and exploitation of the people continues, so will the struggle.
Important dates and time line
3O-4-1998: Parti Sosialis Malaysia(PSM) makes formal application to the Registrar of Societies to form a political party after 5 years of internal discussion between grassroots groups and progressive individuals.
31-12-1998: After many correspondence, letters, inquiries and after the Registrar failed to register PSM within 6 months, PSM submits a complaint to the Director General of the Societies Registration Department questioning the delay.
21-1-1999 : Another reminder letter was send.
4-2-1999: PSM receives a letter dated 27th. January 1999 from the Societies Registration Department stating that the application has been rejected. No reasons were given.
23-2-1999: PSM makes an appeal to the Home Ministry under Section 18- Societies Act, 1966
PSM sends letter to Ministry on 7 April 1999, 9 June 1999, 14 July 1999 and on 23 July 1999, asking on the status of the appeal
5-8-1999: PSM makes a complaint to the Public Complaints Bureau under the Prime Minister’s Department on the inefficiency of the Home Ministry in processing PSM’s appeal.
23-9-1999: PSM receives letter signed by the Chief Secretary of the Home Ministry dated 15th. September 1999 stating that PSM’s appeal has been rejected and this decision is final. Again no reasons were given.
26-10-1999: PSM made history for being the first party to challenge the Ministry’s decision in the Kuala Lumpur High Court. PSM’s lawyers for the case is Counsel Tommy Thomas, Ragu Kesavan and Teng Chang Khim. (recently Amer Hamzah joined the team)
The Home Minister then, and who is the current Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi gave two reasons in his affidavit on why PSM’s application was rejected. This was the first time the party got an official respond. He said that PSM did not fulfil requirements and based on feedback from the police, the party is a threat to National Security and this information cannot be revealed in the name National Interest.
21-3-2000: PSM won first round when Justice Dato K.C.Vohrah allowed for leave on the application.
The case was postponed several times on the 8-8-2000, 22-11-2000, 13-12-2000, 28-2-2001, 16-1-2002, 4-6-2002.
31-10-2002: PSM launches signature campaign to apply pressure to register the party.
13-11-2002: Case starts and goes on the 26 and 27th . of November 2002.
13-1-2003: PSM loses case in High Court. Justice Datuk Abdul Hamid Said rejected PSM’s application with cost. He maintained that National Security is the responsibility of the executive government and the responsibility does not rest in the courts of justice.
7-2-2003: PSM file an appeal to the Appeals Court.
28-1-2004: A notice of urgency was filed
27-7-2004: Another notice for an urgent date was filed
26-3-2005: 36 Organisation including major Human Rights Groups, Grassroots Coalition and MTUC called for PSM to be registered. A memorandum was submitted to Datuk Azmi Khalid, the Home Affairs Minister.
15-11-2005: A demonstration was held at the Palace of Justice and a memorandum was submitted to the Chief Justice Tun Dato Seri Ahmad Fairuz bin Dato Sheikh Abdul Halim. Ten days after that, our lawyer get a date for case management
8-12-2005: Case Management
10-4-2006: APPEALS COURT TO HEAR PSM’s case
The Malaysian Constitution guarantees the right of every citizen to establish a society or party, and freedom to associate. However, on the 27th of January 1999 and again on the 15th of September 1999 , applications by the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) to become a registered society were turned down by the Registrar of Society and Ministry of Home Affairs and later in 2003 by the High Court itself.
PSM have appealed and the case will be heard on 10 April 2006 . We call for local and
international support.
Visit the PSM website at : http://parti-sosialis.org to find out more
