Tan Yi Liang, theSun
September 8, 2008
PETALING JAYA (Sept 8, 2008): The Coalition of Malaysian Non-Governmental Organisations (COMANGO) today submitted their Stakeholder Reports to the Human Rights Council, paving the way for Malaysia to be reviewed by the Council for the first time next year.
The 10-page report reflects on the situation of human rights in Malaysia to the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, based in Geneva, Switzerland, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) documentation and monitoring coordinator John Liu told a press conference here.
“The COMANGO report is part of the Universal Periodic Review, a process where each UN member state gets reviewed in terms of the situation of human rights in the country every four years,” said Liu, who explained the significance of the review to Malaysia.
All 192 members of the UN are reviewed every four years, and Malaysia’s turn is in February 2009 in Geneva.
Besides the NGOs, the government also submits a country report and the UN compiles documents on the country being reviewed. The government will be able to show all that it has done to fulfill its human rights obligations, and assess positive developments and challenges it faces, Liu said.
He said a total of 56 NGOs were involved in providing content for the report. A national consultation was held on Aug 15, and the core of this report was based on that consultation.
The key issues raised by COMANGO include:
> the politicisation of religion and race in Malaysia
> discrimination in health, women, sexuality, students and youth, children, people with disabilities, non-citizens and indigenous people
> restrictions of freedom of information and assembly
> housing of the urban poor
> detention without trial,
> the need for an independent complaints and misconduct commission for the police
> the problem of impunity of human rights abusers and
> the imposition of corporal and capital punishment.
On an earlier report that NGOs were blaming Suhakam for being “toothless” in addressing human rights issues in Malaysia, Liu said it was clear they were pushing for an amendment of the Suhakam Act.
“We have identified the core problem, which is that Suhakam lacks independence because of the limitations of the Suhakam Act,??? said Liu, adding that the NGOs would be coming up with their own proposals for reform of the Suhakam Act.
Bar Council Human Rights Committee deputy chairman Andrew Khoo dismissed suggestions that the Sedition Act be used against the recent comments made by Bukit Bendera Umno Chief Ahmad Ismail, which called Malaysian Chinese “penumpang” or squatters.
“The Bar Council is not in favour of using the Sedition Act. We believe in free speech, but responsible free speech,” said Khoo, who suggested alternative laws be drafted to replace the Sedition Act.
“To me, the statement by Ahmad Ismail is irresponsible. We should look at his intent, if his intent was to create unrest and create racial disharmony, then there are other laws, such as incitement laws, or anti-hate laws. Malaysia should look at such laws, rather than declaring it ‘seditious’,” said Khoo, who was supported by WAO executive director Ivy Josiah.
“Politicians are learning very quickly that they cannot continue making racist or sexist remarks, and this is something that NGOs have been calling for. Any politician making racist or sexist remarks should resign,” said Josiah, who rejected claims that NGOs were anti-government and pro-opposition.
“As long as there is a violation of human rights, it is our mandate as NGOs to support that victim. We are accountable to human rights standards,” said Josiah, who was supported by Empower member Honey Tan.