WE STAND WITH DR AZMI SHAROM We, the 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’s 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 reveal 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 civilized 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 criminalizing 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 It is a repugnant law and must be repealed.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

KAMI BERSAMA DR. AZMI SHAROM

Kami, ahli akademik dan individu prihatin bersolidariti bersama Dr Azmi Sharom dalam semangat setiakawan yang teguh. Beliau didakwa melakukan ‘jenayah’ semata-mata kerana menggunakan akal fikiran dan berkongsi pendapat dengan masyarakat awam mengenai perkara yang berkaitan dengan kepakarannya sebagai seorang profesor undang-undang. Menurut laporan, apa yang dilakukan Dr Azmi ialah mengingatkan Pakatan Rakyat Selangor supaya tidak mengambil jalan berlandaskan keputusan bersejarah Mahkamah Rayuan dalam kes Perak yang membolehkan perubahan kerajaan dan Menteri Besar di negeri itu. Sebailknya beliau menggesa Pakatan Rakyat supaya berpegang pada amalan biasa sejagat, iaitu menguji sokongan terhadap gabungan dan calon Menteri Besar mereka melalui undi percaya dalam dewan undangan negeri. Bagaimanakah ini boleh dianggap sebagai hasutan? Tuduhan ‘menutur dan menerbitkan kenyataan menghasut’ terhadap Dr Azmi Sharom hanya menunjukkan hipokrasi kerajaan. Bukankah kerajaan sendiri yang melantik beliau untuk mendidik mahasiswa mengenai sistem perundangan negara kita, untuk menyelidik, meneliti keputusan penghakiman, dan mengulas tentang maksud keadilan dalam sebuah demokrasi? Tuduhan ‘menutur dan menerbitkan kenyataan menghasut’ atas dasar pandangan beliau yang berasas dan jelas berkelayakan menunjukkan bahawa kerajaan tidak menghormati prinsip-prinsip sejagat kebebasan pendidikan serta kebebasan bersuara. Tindakan ini menunjukkan kerajaan dipimpin oleh ahli-ahli politik yang tidak dapat menghargai nilai-nilai demokratik masyarakat bertamadun yang berteraskan pendidikan sebagai landasan pencerahan sejagat. Azam Perdana Menteri Najib Razak yang kononya bertekad atas nama kecemerlangan akademik, demokrasi serta transformasi kerajaan dan ekonomi kelihatan lemah lagi kekosongan. Kami berpendapat bahawa selagi seseorang itu tidak menyeru keganasan atau kebencian, tiada undang-undang dalam dunia moden ini yang boleh dijadikan alasan untuk mengharamkan pemikiran dan suara mana-mana individu. Sesungguhnya, menggunakan Akta Hasutan 1948, satu warisan perundangan kolonial British; untuk mendakwa Dr. Azmi Sharom jelas menunjukkan satu ironi, bahawa rakyat Malaysia masih dibebankan dan ditindas oleh kerajaan yang kononya telah memerdekakan Malaysia dari penjajah selama 57 tahun.

Undang-undang yang lapuk, kejam dan menindas seperti Akta Hasutan 1948 tidak patut lagi wujud dalam negara Malaysia yang moden, progresif dan demokratik. Ia suatu undang-undang yang hina dan harus dimansuhkan. Ia berlawanan sama sekali dengan hak kebebasan asasi yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Ia bertentangan dengan Perisytiharan Hak Asasi Manusia Sejagat. Dan ia juga bercanggah dengan fitrah kita sebagai manusia yang mempunyai minda untuk berfikir ke arah pencerahan. Bebaskan segera Dr Azmi Sharom daripada penyelewengan keadilan! Bebaskan Malaysia! 4 Sept 2014

LIST OF ENDORSERS

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