We, the 300 undersigned academics and concerned individuals, stand united and in solidarity with Dr Azmi Sharom, whose only alleged ‘crime’ is to think and to publicly share his considered opinion on matters related to his professional expertise as a law professor.
Reportedly, all Dr Azmi did was to caution the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat to not resort to the Court of Appeal’s ‘landmark’ ruling of effecting a transition of government and Menteri Besar in the Perak case but to revert to the universally accepted convention of testing its support and its candidate for Menteri Besar in a vote of confidence in the state assembly. What is so seditious about that?
Charging Dr Azmi Sharom with ‘uttering and publishing a seditious statement’ only shows up the hypocrisy of this government. After all, does not this same government also employ Dr Azmi to teach students about our legal system, to undertake research, to study judicial pronouncements and to opine what constitutes justice within a democracy? Does it not defeat the very purpose of his work and indeed the work of thousands of other academics within a nationwide university system if he is to be summarily hauled up for merely doing his duty as an academic?
Charging Dr Azmi Sharom with ‘uttering and publishing a seditious statement’ for his informed views reveals the lack of respect this government has towards the universal principles of academic freedom and freedom of expression. By its actions, this government reveals it is led by politicians who are unable to appreciate civilised democratic values nurtured by enlightened universal education. Prime Minister Najib Razak’s on-going mantra of commitment towards academic excellence, democracy, government and economic transformation rings hollow.
We are of the view that, as long as one does not espouse violence or promote hate, there is no law in our modern world that can justify the criminalising of thought and public speech. Indeed, the colonial-era Sedition Act 1948 under which Dr Azmi is being charged only indicates a painful irony, namely after 57 years of Merdeka we remain shackled and oppressed by the very government that claims to have freed us from British colonial rule.
There is no place in a modern, progressive and democratic Malaysia for an archaic, backward and oppressive law that is the Sedition Act 1948. It is a repugnant law and must be repealed. It runs afoul of the fundamental liberties as enshrined in the federal constitution. It runs afoul of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And it runs afoul of our nature as enlightened human beings with thinking minds.
Free Dr Azmi Sharom from this perversion of justice! Free Malaysia!
4 Sept 2014
1 | Andrew Aeria | Academic | Kuching |
2 | Lee Hwok Aun | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
3 | Faisal Hazis | Academic | Kuching |
4 | Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid | Academic | Penang |
5 | Ahmad Fuad Rahmat | Academic | Shah Alam |
6 | Aishah Knight | Academic | Penang |
7 | Amanda Whiting | Academic | Melbourne, Australia |
8 | Aznijar Ahmad Yazid | Academic & PKAUM | Klang |
9 | Chai Ming Hock | Academic | Kuching |
10 | Chiew Thiam Kian | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
11 | Chua Hang Kuen | Academic | Penang |
12 | Datin Dr. Sameem Abdul Kareem | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
13 | Dato’ Chatar Singh | Physicist & Academic /Retired | Penang |
14 | Dato Dr Toh Kin Woon | Research Fellow | Penang |
15 | Dato Dr.Sharom Ahmat | Academic/Retired | Penang |
16 | Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
17 | Dr Jeff Tan | Academic | London |
18 | Dr Lai Suat Yan | Academic & PKAUM | Kuala Lumpur |
19 | Dr Lee King Siong | Academic/Retired | Kuala Lumpur |
20 | Dr Mavis Puthucheary | Academic/Retired | Kuala Lumpur |
21 | Dr Mohd Faizal Musa | Academic | Bangi |
22 | Dr Mustafa K Anuar | Academic | Penang |
23 | Dr Nur AfifahVanitha Abdullah | Academic | Kuching |
24 | Dr Ooi Kee Beng | Academic | Penang |
25 | Dr Subramaniam Pillay | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
26 | Dr Tessa J. Houghton | Academic | Semenyih |
27 | Dr Wong Chin Huat | Academic | Penang |
28 | Dr. Bridget Welsh | Senior Research Associate | Kuala Lumpur/Taipei |
29 | Dr. Cecilia Ng | Academic | Penang |
30 | Dr. Corinne Hyde | Academic | Baton Rouge, USA |
31 | Dr. Khoo Gaik Cheng | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
32 | Dr. Koo Yew Lie | Academic | Kuala Lumpur, UK & Australia |
33 | Dr. Lee Chai Peng | Academic/Retired | Petaling Jaya |
34 | Dr Lee Su Kim | Academic/Retired | Kuala Lumpur |
35 | Dr. Leong Yueh Kwong | Ecologist | Penang |
36 | Dr. Lim Mah Hui | City Councillor | Penang |
37 | Dr. Lim Teck Ghee | Policy Researcher | Kuala Lumpur |
38 | Dr. Lucy Bailey | Academic | Semenyih |
39 | Dr. Patricia Anne Martinez | Academic | Petaling Jaya |
40 | Dr. Rajeswari Kanniah | Academic | putrajaya |
41 | Dr. Rusaslina Idrus | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
42 | Dr. Tan Liok Ee | Academic/Retired | Penang |
43 | Dr. John Whalen-Bridge | Academic | Singapore |
44 | Edmund Terence Gomez | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
45 | FK Phang | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
46 | Francis Loh | Academic/Retired & Civil Society Activist | Penang |
47 | Goy Siew Ching | Academic | Kuching |
48 | Gregore Pio Lopez | Research Fellow | Perth, Australia |
49 | Helen Ting | Academic | Kajang |
50 | Ho Sinn-Chye | Academic | Penang |
51 | Ivy Loo | Academic | Penang |
52 | James Chin | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
53 | Jayaeswari Sangaralingam | Academic | Penang |
54 | Jenny Chew Saw Chin | Academic | Penang |
55 | Joanne Lim | Academic | Selangor |
56 | Jonathan JS Kovilpillai | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
57 | K.Thiruchelvam | Academic | Petaling Jaya |
58 | Kam Suan Pheng | Academic | Penang |
59 | Kamal Salih | Academic/Retired | Kuala Lumpur |
60 | Kamal Solhaimi Fadzil | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
61 | Khoo Ying Hooi | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
62 | Kua Kia Soong | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
63 | Law Tzuo Hann | Academic | Taiping |
64 | Lee Hock Guan | Senior Research Fellow | Singapore |
65 | Lim Hong Sheng | Academic | Johor Bahru/Oxford |
66 | Loh Kong Ken | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
67 | Loh Wei Leng | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
68 | Loo Hong Chuang | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
69 | maimuna hamid merican | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
70 | Mary Varghese | Academic | Petaling Jaya |
71 | Molly NN Lee | Academic | Penang |
72 | Ng Kah Chuan | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
73 | Ng Mei Peng | Academic | Petaling Jaya |
74 | Ngo Sheau Shi | Academic | Penang |
75 | Ngu Ik Tien | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
76 | Noraida Endut | Academic | Penang |
77 | Paul Lim | Academic/Retired | Taipei |
78 | Petra Gimbad | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
79 | Phua Kai Lit | Academic | Shah Alam |
80 | Por Heong Hong | Academic/Independent Researcher | Kuala Lumpur |
81 | Por Lip Yee | Academic & PKAUM | Kuala Lumpur |
82 | Professor Abdul Rahman Embong | Academic/Researcher | Bangi |
83 | Professor William G. Tierney | Academic | Los Angeles, USA |
84 | Professor Andrew Harding | Academic | Singapore |
85 | Professor Khoo Boo Teik | Academic | Tokyo |
86 | Professor Maude E Phipps | Academic | Petaling Jaya |
87 | Professor Surichai Wungaeo | Academic | Bangkok |
88 | Rafidah Md. Noor | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
89 | Raja Ariffin Raja Ghazilla | Academic & PKAUM | Kuala Lumpur |
90 | Richard Mason | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
91 | Rokiah Alavi | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
92 | Rom Nain | Academic | Selangor |
93 | Rosli H Mahat | Academic & PKAUM | Kuala Lumpur |
94 | Rosli Omar | Academic/Retired | Kuala Lumpur |
95 | Ruhana bt. Padzil | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
96 | Santhiram Raman | Academic | Penang |
97 | Shamsul AB | Social Anthropologist | Seremban |
98 | Sharifah Muhairah Shahabudin | Academic | Petaling Jaya |
99 | Sharon A. Bong | Academic | Petaling Jaya |
100 | Sharon Kaur | Academic | Petaling Jaya |
101 | Soon Chuan Yean | Academic | Penang |
102 | Sue Khor | Academic | Penang |
103 | Sumit Mandal | Independent Scholar | Petaling Jaya |
104 | Suresh Narayanan | Academic | Penang |
105 | Tamir Moustafa | Academic | Burnaby, Canada |
106 | tan beng hui | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
107 | Tan Ka Kheng | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
108 | Tan Sooi Beng | Academic | Penang |
109 | Tan Sri Dato’ Emeritus Professor Gajaraj Dhanarajan | Academic | Penang |
110 | Thock Ker Pong | Academic | Kuala Lumpur. |
111 | Ting Su Hie | Academic | Kuching |
112 | Too Shaw Warn | Academic | Semenyih |
113 | VGR Chandran Govindaraju | Academic | Petaling Jaya |
114 | Wan Chang Da | Academic | Penang |
115 | Wan Manan | Academic | Kota Bharu |
116 | Wang Lay Kim | Academic | Penang |
117 | Wei Keong Too | Academic | Semenyih |
118 | Wong Mun Loong | Academic | Kajang |
119 | Wong Soak Koon | Academic/Retired | Kuala Lumpur |
120 | Yap Tuan Gee | Academic & Medical Doctor | Kuala Lumpur |
121 | Yeoh Seng Guan | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
122 | Yuen Kok Leong | Academic | Kuching |
123 | Zabdi Zamrod | Academic/Retired | Penang |
124 | Zaidi Razak | Academic & PKAUM | Kuala Lumpur |
125 | Zawawi Ibrahim | Academic | Kuala Lumpur |
126 | Aerleen Justim | Concerned Citizen | Petaling Jaya |
127 | Ahmed Bin Chee | Engineer | Penang |
128 | Aidan Yang | Concerned Citizen/Retired | Petaling Jaya |
129 | Alex Heng | Bank Manager/Retired | Penang |
130 | Al-Mustaqeem M Radhi | Writer | Kuala Lumpur |
131 | Altaf Deviyati Ismail | Researcher | Penang |
132 | Ambiga Sreenevasan | Lawyer | Kuala Lumpur |
133 | Anas Alam Faizli | Project Management Professional | Kuala Lumpur |
134 | Ang Hiok Gai | Educator | Petaling Jaya |
135 | Angela Tan | PR Consultant | Kuala Lumpur |
136 | Angeline Loh | Writer | Penang |
137 | Angie Santhanam | Teacher | Kuala Lumpur |
138 | Anil Netto | Freelance Writer | Penang |
139 | Anna Har Mei Yoke | Filmmaker and Producer | Kuala Lumpur |
140 | Anne Lasimbang | Social/Community Activist | Kota Kinabalu |
141 | Annette Vijiarungam | Web Administrator | Kuala Lumpur |
142 | Annie Lim | Administrator | Penang |
143 | Anwar Fazal | Social Activist/Concerned Citizen | Penang |
144 | Basil Fernando | Attorney At Law | Sri Lanka |
145 | Ben Rethual | Concerned Citizen | Kuala Lumpur |
146 | BK Ong | Social Activist | Kota Kinabalu |
147 | Boon Kia Meng | PhD Candidate | Kyoto, Japan |
148 | C.L.Chan | Concerned Citizen/Retired | Kuala Lumpur |
149 | Charles Hector | Lawyer, Human Rights Defender and Writer | Temerloh |
150 | Chi Too | Artist | Kuala Lumpur |
151 | Chia Che Hieng | Engineer | Singapore |
152 | Chin Khuan Sui | Teacher | Penang |
153 | Chitra Alagan | Manager | Penang |
154 | Chok Pit Yuen | Secretary | Kuala Lumpur |
155 | Chong Wui Howe | Business Analysis Manager | Ipoh |
156 | Chow Chee Keong | Principal | Penang |
157 | Chua Ai Ling | Advocate & Solicitor | Penang. |
158 | Chua Sieh Mann | Lawyer | Petaling Jaya |
159 | Chua Tee Tee | Educator | Petaling Jaya |
160 | Chung Tack Soon | Marketing Manager | Kuala Lumpur |
161 | Clare Rewcastle Brown | Journalist | London |
162 | Colin Kirton | Artist | Subang Jaya |
163 | Colin Nicholas | Indigenous Rights’ Activist/ Researcher | Petaling Jaya |
164 | Daniel John Jambun | Civil Society Activist | Kota Kinabalu |
165 | Daniel Soon | Social Care Giver | Penang |
166 | Datin Fakhitah Mohd. Darus | Welfare Officer/Retired | Penang |
167 | Dato VL Kandan | Lawyer | Kuala Lumpur |
168 | Dato’ Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim | Entrepreneur & Civil Society Activist | Kuala Lumpur |
169 | Dorathy Benjamin | Civil Society Activist | Subang Jaya |
170 | Dr SP Choong | Medical Doctor | Penang |
171 | Dr Yolanda Augustin | Medical Doctor | London |
172 | Dr. Beth Baikan | Environmental Consultant | Kota Kinabalu |
173 | Dr. Carol Yong | Independent Consultant & Researcher | Kuala Lumpur |
174 | Dr. Regina Lim | Legal Researcher | Kota Kinabalu |
175 | Dr. Thomas Mason | Consultant | Kuching |
176 | Edda de Silva | Publisher/Retired | Kuala Lumpur |
177 | Engku Kamanurrull Zahara Bt Engku Kamarudin, | Legal Assistant | Kuala Lumpur |
178 | Esther Gauri | Project Manager | Kuala Lumpur |
179 | Esther Yew | Sales & Marketing | Kuala Lumpur |
180 | Evelyn Tang | Administrator | Penang |
181 | Farida Jivamala binti Md Ibrahim | Teacher | Petaling Jaya |
182 | Gebril Atong | Indigenous Peoples’ Activist | Miri |
183 | Geh Cheng Lok | Advocate & Solicitor | Penang |
184 | Gerard F. Robless | Concerned Citizen/Retired | Penang |
185 | Gurdip Singh, | Concerned Citizen/Retired | Ipoh |
186 | Haris Ibrahim | Activist | Kuala Lumpur |
187 | Harrison Ngau Laing | Lawyer | Miri |
188 | Ho Yock Lin | Social Activist | Kuala Lumpur |
189 | Honey Tan | Human Rights Activist | Kuala Lumpur |
190 | Ibrahim Suffian | Researcher | Bangi |
191 | Ineke Roskam | Nurse | Petaling Jaya |
192 | Ir. Lam Kar Keong | Engineer | Kuala Lumpur |
193 | Ir. Lim Thean Heng | Engineer | Penang |
194 | Ir. Tan Keng Tong | Engineer | Penang |
195 | J Hoon | Lawyer | Penang |
196 | Jacqueline Ann Surin | Journalist & Editor | Selangor |
197 | Janarthani, A. | Social Activist | Penang |
198 | Janet Pillai | Independent Researcher | Kuala Lumpur |
199 | Jayanath Appudurai | Concerned Citizen/Retired | Kuala Lumpur |
200 | Jeffrey Wei | Concerned Citizen/Retired | Kuching |
201 | Jerald Joseph | Human Rights Trainer | Kuala Lumpur |
202 | Joan Shori | Economist | Penang |
203 | Joe Sidek | Festival Director | Penang |
204 | John Kim Lean Hwa | Social Worker/Retired | Penang |
205 | Jonson K.W. Chong | Educator | Petaling Jaya |
206 | Josef Benedict | Campaigner | Petaling Jaya |
207 | Josephine Ho | Secretary | Klang |
208 | Josie Fernandez | Civil Society Activist | Kuala Lumpur |
209 | Jude Manickam | Technician | Bukit Mertajam |
210 | Julie Wong | Community Organiser/Facilitator | Kuala Lumpur |
211 | Julitah Palalun | Lawyer | Kuala Lumpur |
212 | Kavitha Rajan | Lawyer | Singapore |
213 | Khoo Salma Nasution | Editor | Penang |
214 | KJ John | Columnist/Civil Activist | Petaling Jaya |
215 | Lau Chee Boon | Entrepreneur & Civil Society Activist | Seremban |
216 | Lee Cheng Tue | Engineer | Petaling Jaya |
217 | Lee Chin Chuah | Teacher/Retired | Kuala Lumpur |
218 | Lee Kiong Hock | Concerned Senior Citizen | Washington DC |
219 | Lee Soo Wei | Social Activist | Kajang |
220 | Lee Soon Ching | Teacher & School Principal /Retired; Writer | Ipoh |
221 | Lena Hendry | Social activist | Kuala Lumpur |
222 | Leong Yew Kee | Concerned Citizen/Retired | Ipoh |
223 | Lim Kah Cheng | Company Director/Lawyer /Retired | Penang |
224 | Lim Kai Shen | Teaching Assistant | Petaling Jaya |
225 | Lim Poh Yan | Concerned Citizen | Petaling Jaya |
226 | Loh Cheng Kooi | Civil Society Activist & Executive Director | Penang |
227 | Loo Ah Hooi | Investor | Ipoh |
228 | Low Ai Yun | Concerned Citizen/Retired | Petaling Jaya |
229 | Low Siak Kheang, | Concerned Citizen/Retired | Penang |
230 | Lucia Lai | Admin Clerk | Penang |
231 | M Shanmughalingam | Managing Director | Kuala Lumpur |
232 | M. Nadarajah | Consultant | Penang |
233 | M.Jaya Gobi | Consultant | Petaling Jaya |
234 | M.Sujata | Lawyer | Petaling Jaya |
235 | Magdalene Tang | Geologist | Kuala Lumpur |
236 | Mark Bujang | Indigenous Peoples’ Activist | Miri |
237 | Michael Quah | Teacher /Retired | Penang |
238 | Mohamed Kamar | Managing Director/Retired and Environmentalist | Petaling Jaya |
239 | Nicholas Chan | Researcher | Penang |
240 | Nicholas Mujah ak Ason | Indigenous Peoples’ Activist | Kuching |
241 | Nimai Bhattacharjee | Financial Consultant | Ipoh |
242 | Noor Mahnun Mohamed | Artist | Kuala Lumpur |
243 | Noraini Dhiauddin | Concerned Citizen/Student | Bangi |
244 | Noreen Ariff | Legal Counsel | Johor Bahru |
245 | Noriah bt Abdullah | Teacher/Retired | Penang |
246 | P.Ramakrishnan | Teacher/Retired & Civil Society Activist | Penang |
247 | Pan Choi Yen | General Manager | Petaling Jaya |
248 | Peter John | Radio Journalist/Social Activist | Kuching |
249 | PY Wong | Social Activist | Kuala Lumpur |
250 | R. Mageswaran | Lawyer | Petaling Jaya |
251 | Ragahavan A/L Annamalai | Entrepreneur & Civil Society Activist | Kuala Lumpur |
252 | Ramesan Navaratnarajah | Consultant Gynaecologist | Petaling Jaya |
253 | Ramon Navaratnam | Civil Servant/Retired & Author | Bangsar |
254 | Rayner Sylvester Yeo | Civil Society Activist/Writer | Kuala Lumpur |
255 | Robert Cheong Eng Tick | Concerned Citizen/Retired | Kuala Lumpur |
256 | Robert Foo | Wealth Management Consultant | Kuala Lumpur |
257 | S. Arutchelvan | Social Activist | Kuala Lumpur |
258 | Santalia Deane-Johns | Student | Sydney |
259 | Sarah Karmila Benedict | Lawyer | Kuala Lumpur |
260 | Sarajun Hoda | Entrepreneur & Civil Society Activist | Port Klang |
261 | Satish Chand Bhandari | Federal Inspector Of Schools, Ministry of Education/Retired | Penang |
262 | Selvaratnam Saba | Concerned Citizen/Pensioner | Kluang |
263 | Sharaad Kuttan | Journalist | Petaling Jaya |
264 | Sharifuddin Abdul Latiff | Freelance Media Specialist | Kuala Lumpur |
265 | Sheila Pakiam | Counsellor | Penang |
266 | Siah Sy Jen | Lawyer | Kuching |
267 | Sivin Kit | Doctoral Researcher | Kristiansand |
268 | SK Tio | Concerned Citizen/Retired | Penang |
269 | Sophie Marie Helene Chao | Environmentalist | Jakarta |
270 | Susanna George | Organisational Consultant | Petaling Jaya |
271 | Suzanne Tan Gaik Leng | Decorative Painter | Kuala Lumpur |
272 | Syerleena Abdul Rashid | Social Activist | Penang |
273 | T.S. Gill | Consultant Engineer | Petaling Jaya |
274 | Tan Gaik Hoon | Accountant | Petaling Jaya |
275 | Tan Hwang-Ee | Lawyer | Penang |
276 | Tan Keat Chooi | Executive Secretary | Penang |
277 | Tan Paik Sim | Concerned Citizen | Ipoh |
278 | Tan Pek Leng | Researcher | Penang |
279 | Tan Pong Soo | Entrepreneur & Civil Society Activist | Kuala Lumpur |
280 | Tan Seng Keat | Researcher | Bangi |
281 | Tan Yew Sing | Entrepreneur & Civil Society Activist | Kuala Lumpur |
282 | Tengku Idaura | Concerned Citizen/Retired | Penang |
283 | Teo Ann Siang | Social Activist | Kuala Lumpur |
284 | Terry Ch’ng Hwa Lian, | Concerned Citizen/Pensioner | Alor Setar |
285 | Thomas Jalong | Indigenous Peoples’ Activist | Miri |
286 | TK Fong | Concerned Citizen | Kuala Lumpur |
287 | Tricia Yeoh | Public Policy Analyst | Kuala Lumpur |
288 | Vicky Chan | Webmaster | Petaling Jaya |
289 | Vijaye Jayanath | Engineer | Kuala Lumpur |
290 | Wan Saiful Wan Jan | Researcher | Kuala Lumpur |
291 | Wong Hoy Cheong | Researcher | Petaling Jaya |
292 | Wong Siew Lyn | Freelance Writer | Petaling Jaya |
293 | Yap Swee Seng | Social Activist | Petaling Jaya. |
294 | Yee Lai Wan | Researcher/Retired | Penang |
295 | Yew Wei Lit | PhD Candidate | Hong Kong |
296 | Yin Shao Loong | Researcher | Kuala Lumpur |
297 | Yoong Chew Hing | Teacher/Retired | Kuala Lumpur |
298 | Yow Chee Keong | Software Engineer | Sydney |
299 | Yow Lee Fung | Education Activist | Kuala Lumpur |
300 | Zaid Kamaruddin | Civil Society Activist | Kuala Lumpur |
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