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Experience of being followed or surveilled is “very well-known among some opposition politicians and activists”

Commenting on the recent major blowout, Kenneth Jeyaretnam, Secretary General of the Reform Party (RP), and independent journalist Kirsten Han highlighted their experiences of being followed or surveilled, which are “well-known among some opposition politicians and activists.”

As of today, the circumstances surrounding the filming of the video featuring Mr Perera and Ms Seah remain unknown, including when, where, and who filmed it. The video was reported by local media as being leaked on Facebook by a fake profile named “Victoria Wang,” however the post had only tens of shares when the news first broke, hardly enough to be considered viral.

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1 year ago

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On Wednesday (19 Jul), Workers’ Party Secretary-General Pritam Singh confirmed the resignation of both the party’s senior members, Mr Leon Perera and Ms Nicole Seah over their affairs.

Mr Perera also resigned as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Aljunied GRC, while Ms Seah resigned from her party’s position as Youth Wing President.

Their resignation was prompted by a video that surfaced on social media on 17 July, hours before the announcement by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of the resignations of the People’s Action Party’s former Speaker, Tan Chuan Jin and MP Cheng Li Hui over an affair that the two had since 2020.

When questioned about the timing and coincidence of the video exposing two former WP members’ affairs, WP Chief Pritam Singh refrained from speculation.

However, he acknowledged that the question was on many people’s minds and left them to draw their conclusions about the ‘uncanny coincidence.’

“I think it’s on a lot of people’s minds, but I leave you to draw your own conclusions, on… this ‘uncanny coincidence’ vis-a-vis timing.”

RP Sec-Gen and activist Kirsten Han shared their experience of being followed or surveilled

The resignation of four politicians, two from the PAP and two from the WP, due to personal indiscretions, has sent shockwaves through the entire city-state this week.

Commenting on the major blowout, Kenneth Jeyaretnam, Secretary General of the Reform Party (RP), and independent journalist and activist Kirsten Han highlighted their experiences of being followed or surveilled, which are “well-known among some opposition politicians and activists.”

During the press conference on Wednesday, WP Chief Pritam Singh revealed that, to the best of his knowledge, Mr Perera and Ms Seah started their relationship after the General Election 2020, but it ended some time ago.

However, Mr Singh stated that he was unaware of the video’s origin and recording date, and didn’t possess a fixed date for the end of their relationship.

Both former party members were not forthcoming when initially confronted with the allegations. Upon the video’s emergence on 17 July, Mr Singh confronted them again, leading to their confession about the affair.

In his recent blog, Mr Jeyaretnam highlighted that what hasn’t been revealed is the source of the video and expressed his interest in knowing how it was obtained.

“The video is quite slick. Good enough to make Nicole easily identifiable when she turns to show her whole face, even though the place appears to be lit only by candlelight.”

The video was leaked on Facebook by a fake profile known only as “Victoria Wang,” and the video post has since been deleted. Local media cited the video post as their source. However, the post had only tens of shares when the news first broke, hardly enough to be considered viral.

“We need a categorical denial that it wasn’t through the state’s covert surveillance of its citizens whether by ISD (Internal Security Department), PA (People’s Association) members or paid private investigators,” he said, emphasizing that ISD falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is Mr K Shanmugam’s responsibility.

Mr Jeyaretnam recalled an incident from last month when he and RP members visited the Yishun Chong Pang Market as part of a walkabout.

During the visit, they had an ‘interesting interaction’ with a group of individuals all dressed in white, who were presumed to be PAP grassroots members.

At that time, Mr Jeyaretnam and his team members entered the market and sat down to wait for other team members. They noticed several people around them wearing white attire.

He shared that one woman wearing the PAP uniform offered him a drink, which he politely declined, suspecting it might be an attempt to accuse him of being a drunkard.

Later, Mr Jeyaretnam encountered a man wearing a tie-dye shirt who questioned his opinion on whether the CPIB itself was corrupt. He also noticed two other people filming him in an unusual manner and without identifying themselves.

Mr Jeyaretnam pointed out that if an ordinary citizen were brazenly filmed chatting with him, they would run away. However, the tie-dye guy casually denied knowing them.

“Even when we started to leave, these shadowy individuals continued to film us using phones, ducking behind pillars or cars in the carpark when I tried to look at them. They even filmed us getting into a taxi and the taxi’s number plates, ” Mr Jeyaretnam recalled.

Shortly after, a photo of Mr Jeyaretnam sitting at the hawker centre making a vlog with his phone appeared on the PAP Nee Soon GRC Facebook page, an attempt to mock him, but it backfired with certain netizens.

Kirsten Han: It’s quite well-known among activists that we are sometimes filmed

Meanwhile, commenting on Mr Jeyaretnam’s blog, Ms Han noted that It’s quite well-known among activists that they are sometimes “surreptitiously (and not that surreptitiously) filmed”.

Often, they can only speculate about the identities of these people and the organizations they may be associated with—though the police and ISD are popular guesses—because they never identify themselves.

Regarding the video featuring Mr Perera and Ms Seah, while she cannot definitively determine where the footage came from and who shot it, she found Mr Jeyaretnam’s encounter at Chong Pang intriguing and familiar.

Ms Han recounted incidents from over 10 years ago, where she had encounters with individuals filming activists.

For instance, when delivering a clemency petition for Kho Jabing, she noticed a couple of guys across the street from the Istana’s side gate filming them.

Similarly, a few years ago, while delivering a letter from families of death row prisoners, she saw men at Plaza Singapura who seemed to be filming her and her friends as they set off for the Istana.

“They were hanging out for some time at the smoking corner, but not smoking. Instead, they were holding up phones at an angle that suggested they were filming. ”

Earlier this year, Ms Han was outside Changi Prison with a couple of advocacy group Transformative Justice Collective’s friends, waiting for Tangaraju’s family, she observed a man dressed casually, seemingly like a resident running errands, but he stood across the street from her group for an extended period, with his phone camera pointed at them.

She said she waved at the man and made a ‘V’ hand gesture, attempting to interact with him. However, he quickly moved behind a tiny tree, intentionally obscuring his face from view, while still holding his phone out, suggesting that he may have been persisting in filming or possibly taking photos of them.

Ms Han exercised caution and refrained from hastily concluding that the leaked video of Leon and Nicole was a result of ISD/surveillance activities.

However, after reading Mr Jeyaretnam’s blog post, she couldn’t help but recognize that the experience of being filmed and surveilled is “very well-known among some opposition politicians and activists, while the wider public might not be aware.”

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Civil Society

29 organisations demand criminal prosecution of law-breaking police in Malaysia

A coalition of 29 organisations is demanding that Malaysia end the perception of shielding law enforcement officers from prosecution when involved in serious violations like torture and killings. Highlighting cases such as the disappearances of Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat, they call for accountability through criminal charges.

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7 hours ago

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3 October 2024

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Activist Amri Che Mat and Pastor Raymond Koh

A coalition of 29 organisations is calling for an end to what they describe as a “policy” or perception in Malaysia that shields police and law enforcement officers from criminal prosecution, even when they are involved in serious violations such as death, torture, or human rights abuses.

These groups argue that law enforcement officers who break the law should be subject to the same criminal prosecution and sentencing as ordinary citizens.

The coalition points to several high-profile cases where police officers allegedly committed serious crimes, yet no action was taken to prosecute those responsible.

They argue that merely subjecting officers to internal disciplinary actions does not fulfil the public’s demand for justice. Instead, such officers must be charged and tried in open courts, allowing for transparency in the administration of justice.

Enforced Disappearance of Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat

One prominent case cited is the enforced disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat. In 2019, the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) concluded, following a public inquiry, that both men were likely victims of enforced disappearance carried out by police officers from the Special Branch.

The government formed a Special Task Force to investigate SUHAKAM’s findings, but when the report was completed, it was classified as an “Official Secret” and was not disclosed to the public.

Recently, during a civil trial initiated by the families of the victims, parts of the report were revealed.

These findings supported SUHAKAM’s conclusions, asserting that the officers involved were rogue individuals acting independently. However, despite this revelation, no criminal charges have been filed against the responsible officers.

The delay in prosecuting these officers, even after clear findings, further bolsters the perception that Malaysia protects its law enforcement officers from the full extent of the law.

Assault on Ong Ing Keong

In another case, Ong Ing Keong, a deaf and mute e-hailing driver, was allegedly assaulted on 28 May 2024 by a police officer escorting a VIP.

Despite video evidence supporting Ong’s claims, no charges have been brought against the officer involved. This case has raised further questions about the government’s willingness to hold law enforcement accountable.

Failures in Investigating Police-Related Deaths

The coalition also highlights multiple cases involving deaths caused by police officers, where no significant legal action has been taken.

A coroner’s court ruling on 31 May 2023 determined that the fatal shooting of three men by police officers was not justified as an act of self-defence. Despite this finding, the officers involved have not been charged.

Similarly, in a separate incident, the High Court ruled on 1 February 2024 that the death of a man in Sitiawan, Perak, at the hands of police was homicide, yet no charges have been filed.

The coalition argues that these incidents contribute to a widespread loss of public confidence in Malaysia’s criminal justice system, particularly when it comes to cases involving law enforcement officers.

They stress that the government must act decisively to ensure that justice is seen to be done, by investigating, charging, and prosecuting officers found responsible for these crimes.

Concerns About Torture and Deaths in Custody

There are growing concerns over allegations of torture and deaths in police custody, with many cases seemingly underreported due to victims’ fear or lack of faith in the system.

The groups worry that if the public continues to perceive that justice is inaccessible, it may lead to increased incidents of violence or retaliation against police officers.

The Need for Clearer Laws and Specific Offences

The coalition believes that existing Malaysian laws, such as the Federal Constitution and the Criminal Procedure Code, clearly outline the legal obligations of police officers.

However, they argue that there is a need for additional specific laws to address violations committed by law enforcement officers, particularly in cases involving torture, illegal searches, or denial of legal rights.

They propose enacting special criminal offences targeting police misconduct to ensure greater accountability.

They further highlight the challenge posed by the fact that police misconduct often occurs in the presence of fellow officers, who may be reluctant to report their colleagues. This creates a culture of impunity within the force, making it difficult for victims to seek justice.

Recommendations for Reform

The coalition’s demands include the immediate investigation, charging, and trial of the officers responsible for the enforced disappearance of Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat, as well as the disclosure of their whereabouts.

They also call for the prosecution of officers involved in the disappearance of Joshua Hilmy and Ruth Sitepu, based on findings from SUHAKAM’s public inquiry.

Moreover, the group advocates for the prosecution of the officers involved in the assault of Ong Ing Keong and those found guilty of homicide in recent court decisions.

They also call for the implementation of new laws to address police misconduct and for the government to take active steps to discard the perception that law enforcement officers are immune from prosecution.

The coalition urges the Malaysian government to demonstrate its commitment to justice by ensuring that all law enforcement officers who break the law are charged and tried in open courts.

This transparency, they argue, is critical to restoring public faith in the country’s criminal justice system.

The list of the 29 organisations in the coalition

  1. ALIRAN
  2. MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)
  3. Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement
  4. Association of Home and Maquila Workers (ATRAHDOM), Guatemala
  5. Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), India
  6. Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
  7. Greenpeace Malaysia
  8. Global Women’s Strike, UK
  9. Haiti Action Committee
  10. KLSCAH Civil Rights Committee (KLSCAH CRC)
  11. Legal Action for Women, UK
  12. Migrant Care, Indonesia
  13. National Garment Workers Federation, Bangladesh
  14. North South Initiative, Malaysia
  15. National Union of Transport Equipment & Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAIW), West Malaysia
  16. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
  17. PAYDAY Men’s Network (UK/US)
  18. Persatuan Amal Progresif Malaysia
  19. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (PSWS)
  20. Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity (PACTI), India
  21. Sabah Timber Industry Employees Union (STIEU)
  22. Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA)
  23. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
  24. Singapore Anti Death Penalty Campaign (SADPC)
  25. The Workers’ Assistance Center, Inc. (WAC), Philippines
  26. Union of Domestic, Maquila, Nexas and Related Workers (SITRADOM), Guatemala
  27. WH4C (Workers Hub for Change)
  28. Black Women for Wages for Housework, US
  29. Women of Color/Global Women’s Strike, US/UK
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Civil Society

WMP: The Dyson lay-offs is a test of how useful PAP’s relationship with unions is for workers

In response to Dyson’s recent layoffs, Workers Make Possible (WMP) questioned whether The United Workers of Electronics and Electrical Industries (UWEEI), an NTUC affiliate, will fight for workers’ livelihoods or accept defeat. WMP highlighted that many PAP leaders, including SM Teo Chee Hean and MP Patrick Tay, lead UWEEI’s Council of Advisors, raising concerns about its effectiveness.

Published

1 day ago

on

2 October 2024

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The recent lay-off decision by UK-based tech giant Dyson in Singapore has raised significant questions about the effectiveness of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP)’s relationship with unions, according to local civil society group Workers Make Possible (WMP).

In an Instagram post, WMP shared two screenshots of news articles, highlighting the irony of British billionaire James Dyson receiving the Public Service Star (Distinguished Friends of Singapore) award in July 2023 for his contributions to the Singaporean economy.

However, fast forward to recently, Dyson’s unexpected round of layoffs left many employees in shock and morale at an all-time low, with only a day’s notice given to The United Workers of Electronics and Electrical Industries (UWEEI), an affiliate of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

 

According to Channel News Asia, the layoffs come just three months after Dyson had assured staff that its Singapore operations, which serve as its global headquarters, would be unaffected by a global restructuring that had cut 1,000 jobs in Britain.

Employees reported that the retrenchment process was conducted discreetly, with affected workers receiving email notifications for private “one-on-one” meetings.

During these meetings, attended by human resources representatives, employees were informed that their roles had been rendered redundant.

A Dyson spokesperson responded to media inquiries by stating that the company was adjusting its team composition to ensure it had the right skills in place for future growth.

“Our ambitions in Singapore remain unchanged, and we expect to continue growing here in the medium term,” the spokesperson said.

Dyson did not, however, disclose the number of employees laid off or provide specifics on how the company plans to support the affected staff.

UWEEI expressed disappointment over the layoffs, revealing that it was informed only a day before the retrenchment, which left little room for meaningful discussions.

The union has since escalated the matter to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for further review.

While the union acknowledged that the affected employees fell outside its scope of representation under its agreement with Dyson, it pledged to support the laid-off workers in collaboration with NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i).

UWEEI and e2i will assist with job searches, career coaching, and retraining. The union also called on companies to adhere to NTUC’s Fair Retrenchment Framework, emphasizing the need to protect local workers and ensure that adequate support is given during layoffs.

WMP Calls on UWEEI to Act Decisively Amidst Dyson Layoffs, Questioning PAP’s Commitment to Worker Advocacy

Commenting on UWEEI’s response to the recent Dyson layoffs, WMP noted that many PAP members are part of its Council of Advisors, with Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean serving as Chairman and PAP MP Patrick Tay as secretary.

WMP also pointed out that during a parliamentary sitting last month, PAP MPs fervently defended the importance of involvement in trade unions to protect workers.

“Critics should pause their judgement and see what the UWEEI can do in this moment of crisis for the laid-off workers,” WMP remarked.

The group questioned the effectiveness of UWEEI’s actions, suggesting that if PAP MPs are correct in their assertions, then UWEEI should not remain passive.

“It surely cannot be the case that all the UWEEI is able to advertise up-skilling programs to laid-off workers?”

WMP questioned what UWEEI’s next steps will be and whether they will accept defeat or fight for workers’ livelihoods.

 

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