SLAPPs are Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation usually used by Corporations against HR Defenders, protesting community leaders and Media.
NOW, Pahang State Government is threatening to sue environmentalist and Human Rights Defender, Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil for allegedly making defamatory statements on logging activities in the state, environmental impact assessment...A VERY DANGEROUS TREND IN A DEMOCRATIC STATE.
So, should we all keep quiet and do not expose corruption of public officers, questions/issues about 'abuse of powers' and issues surrounding forest, environment, tigers >>> for in Malaysia, even the State Government will SUE you..
After all, we know that a PUBLIC Officer, an employee of ALL Malaysians, have just gone AHEAD and sued a journalist for articles written that HIGHLIGHTS possibility of wrongs - A serious issue, though, as the MACC issue is still very, very HOT...
Pahang govt wants apology, RM1mil from activist over logging claims
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PETALING JAYA: The Pahang government is seeking an apology and RM1 million in damages from environmental activist Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil for allegedly making defamatory statements on logging activities in the state.
It said Shariffa Sabrina made the statements in two Facebook posts, dated Dec 29 and Dec 30 last year, and during a Sinar Harian interview on Jan 12.
In a notice issued by law firm Messrs Hidayah Ishak & Partners sighted by FMT, it said her statements implied that the state government:
- Is being irresponsible by allowing logging activities at the Karak mountainous area without making an environmental impact assessment;
- Colluded with the Pahang forestry department to issue a “deceptive” statement that claimed that there were no logging activities at the Lentang forest reserve;
- Is carrying out logging activities at the Lentang forest reserve irresponsibly until a disaster occurred;
- Is the leading cause of logging activities in the forests under its purview; and
- Is practising bribery by allowing logging companies to engage in widespread logging activities in the state.
The notice also claimed that her statements had subjected the state government to public criticism and damaged its reputation.
“Your irresponsible attitude, which is shown via these statements, has subjected our client to accusations from the public that it is a lying and irresponsible government with low integrity,” it said.
Shariffa Sabrina, who heads the Association for the Protection of the Natural Heritage of Malaysia (Peka), was asked to issue an unconditional apology to the state government through all sharing platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.
It also said should she fail to heed the notice within 14 days of receiving the letter, the state government would file a claim with the courts without referring to her as well as seek other damages.
When contacted, Shariffa Sabrina said this was not the first time she had been served a letter of demand.
She said she had also encountered threats and been locked up throughout her struggle to protect and preserve Mother Nature.
“This will not be the last either as threats, intimidation, blackmail or abuse of power. Such actions will continue to be used against me to stop me from exposing wrongdoing by the government when it comes to crimes against nature.
“The state government’s action has further shown that it is against freedom of speech and that it is incompetent in addressing allegations thrown at them, without improving their shortcomings in protecting nature.”
She said forests were needed to combat global warming, and “this kind of tactics to create fear of legal action can tarnish the reputation of the country locally and abroad”.
Shariffa Sabrina called on environmental activists in the country to be fearless in their advocacy. - FMT, 10/2/2022
Pahang govt demands RM1 million damages, apology from activist
THE Pahang government has issued a letter of demand, seeking an apology and RM1 million in damages from activist Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil for allegedly making slanderous statements on logging activities in the state.
The state government said the environmental activist had made defamatory statements on her Facebook on December 29 and 30 last year and during a Sinar Harian interview on January 12.
The demand letter was issued on behalf of the state government by law firm Messrs Hidayah Ishak & Partners.
The demand letter, sighted by The Malaysian Insight, states that Shariffa’s statements implied, among others, that the state government was irresponsible for allowing logging in the Karak mountain areas without making an environmental impact assessment.
Her statements also implied that the state conspired with the Forestry Department to issue a fraudulent statement alleging that there were no logging activities at the Lentang forest reserve and that the state government was carrying out logging at the Lentang forest reserve without any guilt, resulting in a disaster.
It further states that her statements also implied that the state was involved and was the cause of illegal logging and exploration activities in the state’s forest and practising corruption by allowing widespread logging by companies in the state.
It also states that Shariffa’s statements had subjected the state government to public criticism and damaged its reputation.
“(Because of) your irresponsible attitude, which is shown via the three statements, our client has received various negative reactions from the community and tarnished the good name of our client,” the letter read.
Shariffa is told to issue an unconditional apology to the state government for sharing the statements on all her social media platforms, which are accessible to many.
Should she fail to refuse to comply with the notice within 14 days of receiving the letter, the state government would file a claim with the courts without referring to her as well as seek other damages, the demand letter read.
It is a scare tactic
When contacted, Shariffa said this was a scare tactic by the state government to stop vocal activists from telling the truth.
She described the state government’s move as “ridiculous”.
“The move by the Pahang government to send me those demands is ridiculous,” she told The Malaysian Insight.
“I’m an environmentalist and activist and have an NGO (non-governmental organisation). I speak on behalf of the rakyat. It has nothing to do with politics. It is about our environment. We have to prioritise our environment.”
She said she is not intimidated by the state government’s tactic and has referred the matter to her lawyers.
“This is uncalled for. This is a scare tactic for us not to say anything. My lawyers will look into it and they will advise me.
“What we can say is that in Malaysia, when it comes to the environment, it is always last on the list.
“We can see the reason for the flood, which saw many people die. It has never happened before. So in such a situation, should we keep quiet?
“We all know that one of the reasons for climate change is deforestation,” said the president of environmental group Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia.
Shariffa is also a successful businesswoman, running her holiday resorts and chalets. – February 10 2022, Malaysian Insight
News
Pahang govt demands apology, RM1m from environmentalist
Raveena Nagotra
Published: Feb 10, 2022 11:55 AM
The Pahang government has demanded an apology and RM1 million in compensation from an environmental activist for alleged defamation over comments made on the state's involvement in logging activities.
In a letter of demand, sighted by Malaysiakini, it claimed that the statements made by Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil (above) have given the impression that the state government was irresponsible and lacked integrity.
“It is clear that the defamatory statements (made by Shariffa) are false and unfounded. As a result of those published statements, our client (the Pahang government) has received negative reactions from the public, at the same time ruining the reputation and smearing the good name of our client.
“In addition, the irresponsible behaviour (of Shariffa) with the statements she has caused prejudiced (against) our client whereby the public thinks our client is a government that lies, has no integrity and is irresponsible,” read the letter of demand prepared by law firm Hidayah Ishak & Partners.
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The allegedly defamatory statements were made in two Facebook posts on Shariffa’s personal account dated Dec 29 and 30, 2021 as well as during an interview with Sinar Harian on Jan 12 this year.
The Pahang government demanded Shariffa to issue an open, unconditional apology on social media platforms with the condition that it needed to be pre-approved and posted on her social media forever.
They also demanded RM 1 million or equivalent compensation for affecting the image and the name of the state government.
Shariffa, who is Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka) president, was given 14 days upon receiving the letter to comply with their demands, or the state government will file their claims in court.
Outrageous demands
When contacted by Malaysiakini, Shariffa said she was shocked at the demands made by the Pahang government, calling them “outrageous”.
“How can they demand an apology from me merely for raising issues of concern?
“The environment and indiscriminate logging are issues that plague our country. The state government should in fact be working together with me and other stakeholders or activists in attempting to defend our jungles and natural resources.
“The state government’s action in demanding an apology from me is disappointing and unacceptable in a modern-day democracy,” she said, adding that this was not her first time encountering intimidation tactics.
Shariffa said the act of the state government affects the freedom of speech of activists defending the environment and those wanting to speak up on issues surrounding the abuse of natural resources.
“This kind of tactic to create fear of legal action could tarnish the reputation of the country locally and abroad. The environmental activists in this country should not fear to continue fighting for nature.
“The actions taken by the state government of just goes further to show that they are against freedom of speech, incompetent to address the allegations thrown at them without improving their shortcomings in protecting nature,” she said.
The activist said her lawyers are looking into the matter to determine her next course of action.- Malaysiakini, 10/2/2022
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