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Malaysia's Human Rights Record Under Attack
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Malaysia's government was severely criticized Friday by the Human Rights Group of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) for its negative human rights record and lack of freedom of expression in the country.
The SUHAKAM released a much-awaited document Thursday, recommending a total change in attitude of Malaysian authorities towards human rights issues.
The release of the document coincided with a series of events that dealt a severe blow to the image of Malaysian authorities.
On Wednesday, the Free Anwar campaign (FAC) released documents stating that the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held a hearing on Malaysia's human rights situation on July 25th.
The FAC said senators at the hearing did not view the situation in Malaysia positively. In a statement from the Senate Committee, it is said that the case of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was of great concern to the U.S.
"Anwar Ibrahim's continued imprisonment is considered a very serious issue and the U.S. considers Anwar a political prisoner. The U.S. also hopes that the Anwar case can be resolved," it said.
It added that the continued detention of six opposition leaders and political activists under the Internal Security Act (ISA) does not advance Malaysia's greater interests and is not compatible with Malaysia's role in the region, and in the world.
Thus it concluded that the human rights situation in Malaysia in general is not good. In the same breath, the SUHAKAM said there should be far-reaching amendments to the Police Act as a long-term solution to uphold citizens' right to unrestricted and legal peaceful assemblies.
The SUHAKAM suggested that authorities needed to change their attitude as Malaysian civil society was stronger and demands for civil and political rights had become louder.
"This has meant that government action that infringes the fundamental rights of its citizens no longer remains unchallenged," it said.
The group also wrote in the landmark report that it was imperative for the government to "respond to the changing political climate and to the changing aspirations of the society."
The group proposed that a dialogue session be organized involving the police, political parties and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), for the authorities to understand the values of civil society, democracy and the rule of law.
In general, the report shows that there is room for improvement in Malaysia regarding freedom of expression. It explained that the government, and authorities in general, must change its mindset.
It also called for the government to allow peaceful demonstrations, public rallies and urged the police to keep its anti-riot forces and water canon units out of sight of demonstrators in the future.
The police have recently enforced an indefinite ban on political rallies and a number of people have been arrested over the past few days for participating and organizing political gatherings, mostly by the opposition Party Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS).
SUHAKAM also said police should review methods it uses to disperse crowds. "Police must maintain a discreet presence, concentrating on minimizing disruption to traffic, commercial life and business, and ensuring free movement of other users of public space. Riot police may be on standby, but out of sight," it said.
The commission concluded that peaceful assemblies are a healthy way for members of civil society to express dissatisfaction over matters that affect their lives.
"In this context, peaceful refers to the absence of violence and does not necessarily mean silent. Speeches and cheering do not render an assembly not peaceful."
In the meantime, the Malaysian police announced the detention of six leaders of an unknown Malaysian mujahidin group under ISA laws.
Eight men believed to be involved in the "religious extremist movement have been detained under the Internal Security Act", Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai said Friday.
He said the men, aged between 32 and 45, were arrested in various places in Terengganu, Perak, Kedah and Johor.
"All of them have undergone holy war, or military training, in Afghanistan," he told a media conference after a meeting of the 12th Departmental Review of Joint Thailand-Malaysia Working Committee on Criminal Activities.
Parents of those arrested by police had two months ago submitted a report to SUHAKAM urging it to inquire on the detainee's health and reasons for the detention.
They also intend to proceed with court actions against the police in a bid to seek the detainees release.
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