MPs slammed for neglecting human rights

comments     Susan Loone     Published     Updated

Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) chairperson Abu Talib Othman criticised members of Parliament today for not debating its annual report which had been submitted to them earlier this year.

Abu Talib said Suhakam's Annual Report 2001 made recommendations to improve the country's human rights situation, but that the MPs "have not seen it fit to debate it".

"If there is a debate, it will help create awareness of the human rights situation," Abu Talib told reporters today after a two-hour dialogue session with civil society groups at the commission's head office in Kuala Lumpur.

"It was based on this annual report and silence of MPs that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) got together to evaluate the functions of Suhakam during this two-year period (since it was set up in 1999)."

In conjunction with World Human Rights Day today, civil society groups submitted an 11-page memorandum to Suhakam on the performance of the commission, priorities and pledges of the group and recommendations to the government.

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