Glossary Terms and abbreviations used throughout this report EC Election Commission FOAA Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association FOE Freedom of Expression GB Global Bersih GE-14 14th General Elections HR Human Rights HRC UN Human Rights Council HRD Human Rights Defender KAF Kofi Annan Foundation PKR Parti Keadilan Rakyat SOSMA Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 SR Special Rapporteur
The Election Commission of Malaysia. Freedom of assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the freedom of association, is the individual right or ability of people to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue, and defend their ideas; and is recognized as a human right, a political right and a civil liberty. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Kindly refer to the ‘Introduction’ section. To be announced by the EC and will take place during the period of 2017-18. Human rights are moral principles or norms, which describe certain standards of human behaviour that applies universally to all human beings. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 sets out the most basic human rights. It is a United Nations System inter-governmental body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights around the world. Its 47 seats are filled by member states elected for three-year terms. A term used to describe people who, individually or with others, act to promote or protect human rights. The Kofi Annan Foundation mobilises political will to overcome threats to peace, development and human right, by mobilises those who are in a position to influence and bring leadership to the world’s most pressing problems. PKR or People’s Justice Party is an opposition party in Malaysia. An Act to provide for special measures relating to security offences for the purpose of maintaining public order and security and for connected matters. Special Rapporteurs are engaged under the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights to conduct fact-finding missions to countries to investigate allegations of human rights violations.
Terms in the Malay language Sapu-man’
Sapu is the Malay word for a broom, or ‘to sweep’. Sapu-man here is a pun on the suffix used to refer to (usually male) heroes, “-man’; a man ‘sweeping’/saving the city.
Bebas
It means ‘to set free’, or freedom.
Jauh di mata, A Malay proverb that literally means ‘Far from sight, close at heart’. dekat di hati Bersih
It translates into the word ‘clean’, but it is also the name of an organisation, movement and rally in Malaysia, working towards free and fair elections.
Salam
It is an Arabic word that literally means “peace”, but is also used as a general greeting in most Muslim countries, or by Muslims.
Terima Kasih
It is a word that literally translated means ‘to receive love’. The term is used to express thanks and gratitude.
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