Suhakam rapped for not defending freedom of religion, native rights

comments     Leong Kar Yen     Published     Updated

The Malaysian Human Rights Commission, or Suhakam, should speak up for freedom of religion and native customary rights, a human rights organisation said today.

While the commission has expressed its concerns on freedom of religion and native land rights, it failed to make concrete recommendations to the government on how these rights should be protected, lamented the National Human Rights Society (Hakam).

Suhakam's maiden annual report which was released last April mentioned that complaints had been made on the proposed bill to outlaw apostasy but has not made any recommendations on the matter.

The commission had also received complaints that the rights of certain indigenous groups had been threatened. The commission visited the groups in Sabah and Sarawak last year but has yet to release its report on its investigation.

Hakam, which issued a press statement after concluding its 11th annual general meeting yesterday, also called on Suhakam to investigate into the March 2001 Petaling Jaya Selatan racial clashes which left six people dead and scores injured.

"Suhakam should immediately commence an enquiry into the complaint regarding the Kampung Medan incident," the statement said.

Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia, an opposition party, has earlier vowed to sue the commission for failing to probe the incident.

The commission, however, has said that investigations are underway but limited to a closed inquiry as it involved sensitive racial issues.

Key commissioners dropped

However, the tenure of two key commissioners who form Suhakam's investigation arm — and are most likely be involved in an inquiry on the matter — will not be renewed.

Sources closed to the government have informed malaysiakini that in addition to Suhakam chief Musa Hitam, commissioners Anuar Zainal Abidin and Mehrun Siraj — who are leading members of the investigation and complaints working groups — will be dropped from commission's new line-up.

On Saturday, prominent human rights group Suaram has lauded the performance Anuar and Mehrun.

It said that instead of being terminated, Anuar should be appointed to head the commission.

However, the likely candidates for Suhakam chairperson are reportedly former attorney-general Abu Talib Othman and former inspector-general of police Haniff Omar.

Suaram has expressed its concerns over the possible appointments of either Haniff or Abu Talib because both had a bad track record in human rights.

Yesterday's Hakam AGM saw the election of a new president, lawyer Ramdas Tikamdas to replace his legal colleague, Raja Aziz Addruse, for the 2002-2004 term.



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