The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) "missed the point" of its latest inquiry pertaining to the Internal Security Act by overlooking the violation of human rights under detention without trial, said human rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) today.

Suaram condemned "in the strongest possible terms the approach, findings and recommendations of the report as misguided and erroneous" as it focused o­n "improvements" in detention conditions.

The group said the inquiry report would o­nly be used by the government to further justify the continued use of the ISA which allows for indefinite detention without trial.

"The damage done by this report is enormous - an endorsement to the continuing use of the ISA, an unkind portrayal of the past and present injustices caused by the ISA, and a giant backward leap for the country's human rights," said Suaram in a statement.

It said Suhakam had failed to delve into the root cause as to why violations of human rights in relation to the ISA occurred in the first place.

"The root cause, as clear as day, is the ISA itself, where arbitrary powers are provided for state apparatus to wantonly violate repeatedly the rights and freedoms of the detainees with impunity.

"Recommendations in the report that the police should respect the prohibition of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment are indeed wishful thinking and exposes Suhakam's naivete and failings," said Suaram.

This was because a detention under the ISA whether during its first 60 days and subsequent two years is done systematically to crush the body and spirit of the detainee, it added.

The group also questioned the findings that there was no torture - in stark contrast with established documentation of solitary confinement, slapping of detainees, deprivation of sleep, intimidation and psychological assault.

It said other recommendations - such as teaching detainees new skills before re-entry into society and giving them religious classes - can be construed as support for the government's views that these detainees must make better use of themselves and not cause trouble in the future.

"It is also unbecoming for Suhakam to recommend that detainees be allowed to work for a few measly ringgit similar to other prisoners in performing menial work like cooking, gardening, handicraft work, tailoring, and even as cheap labour for factories while at all times, their human rights are being violated," added Suaram.

The group said Suhakam's approach and emphasis o­n "rehabilitation" has made the commission lose its credibility to protect and promote human rights in Malaysia.

Parliamentary debate

Meanwhile, DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang urged all members of Parliament to have a special debate o­n Suhakam's latest report.

"In the past two years, Parliament has been most negligent and irresponsible (as) it failed its duty to monitor Suhakam and ensure that the commission protect and promote human rights (when it did not debate) o­n (the commission's) four reports," he said.

The four reports released since Suhakam's inception in 2000 were the annual report 2000, public inquiry into the Kesas Highway Gathering (on Nov 5, 2000), o­n freedom of assembly and the annual report 2002.

A two-time ISA detainee in 1969 and 1987, Lim said he found the statement by Special Branch Social Intelligence Assistant Director Anuar Bashah Mohd Sohore, as recorded in Suhakam's latest report, that the 60-day ISA interrogation period was not a brainwashing session as "totally lacking in credibility".

The DAP chief said could empathise with Keadilan leader and ISA detainee Saari Sungib's recent personal account that police in o­ne interrogation session boasted about the existence of a shadowy police unit purportedly called the Federal Investigation Team.

"SB officers who interrogated me and other DAP leaders during 1987 Operasi Lalang mass arrests had also boasted about their extraordinary powers and influence as well as made allegations about DAP leaders and their loved o­nes to undermine the detainees' convictions, steadfastness and fortitude," he said.

However, he said he felt that the six detained reformasi leaders and activists - Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, Tian Chua, Hishamuddin Rais, Saari Sungib, Dr Badrulamin Baharon and Lokman Noor Adam - missed the opprtunity to have their say o­n the ISA when the Suhakam inquiry was proceeding.

The six had boycotted the public inquiry o­n gounds that the inquiry scope was narrow and that their appearances were limited to o­nly two representatives.