| Malik Imtiaz Sarwar is the current president of the National Human Rights Society (Hakam) and a lawyer. He has been at the forefront of efforts aimed at promoting constitutionalism and the Rule of Law. His blog ‘Disquiet’, and weekly column of the same name with the Malay Mail, are widely read. |
The Texture Of Justice
May 12, 2009MAY 12 - It was to be expected. As news of the decision of the High Court in the matter of Nizar v Zambry filtered out, many were quick to give thanks and express encouragement for what they perceived as a courageous judgment.Some even expressed the hope that the judiciary was recovering its independence.The judgment did, after all, run counter to the … Read More
They play, we all pay
March 31, 2009MARCH 31 – The Umno Assembly has come and gone and, as has been the case for at least the last three assemblies, in its wake many of us have been left uneasy and in a state of disquiet.Seeing the inner workings of the Leviathan’s mind is never an easy thing, even at the best of times. And these really are the worst of times.Power lust has put a … Read More
Assault on Legislature, Constitution dead
March 07, 2009By Malik Imtiaz SarwarMARCH 7 — Discussing the Perak situation with specificity is, by this stage, a difficult thing to do. So much has happened so quickly. Nuanced actions and counter-actions, some of them in uncertain legal terrain, and relatively scarce details have made it precarious to consider certain key events — the legal action against the … Read More
Perak: A constitutional crisis
February 06, 2009By Malik Imtiaz SarwarFEB 6 — Now that the dust is settling, it is becoming clearer what it is that took place in Perak over the last 24 hours. My respectful view is that His Highness may have acted erroneously in directing the resignation of the menteri besar.As always, it will be useful to consider the objective facts. They are as follows:His Highness, … Read More
Making sense of the Perak controversy
February 04, 2009By Malik Imtiaz SarwarFEB 4 — Before embarking on an analysis of the state of play in Perak, it would be of value to consider the objective facts: Two assemblymen signed undated resignation letters as a condition to their being nominated by their political party for a state election. For this, the party also gave them full support, financial and … Read More
Is the die cast?
February 02, 2009By Malik Imtiaz SarwarFEB 2 — Though it is not yet possible to conclude what it is that occurred during the last hours of the life of Kugan Ananthan, those few facts with which the public has been acquainted with strongly suggest some measure of culpability on the part of those police officers involved in his interrogation. It is a fact that Kugan died in … Read More
The freedom to be
January 05, 2009By Malik Imtiaz SarwarJAN 5 – In his seminal work, "Islam And The Secular State: Negotiating The Future Of Shari'a" (Harvard; 2008), the noted scholar Abdullahi Ahmed An-Naim observes that it is not possible for people of any society to keep their religious beliefs, commitments and concerns out of their political decisions and choices.He notes that the … Read More
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