DAP MPs will ask the government to set aside o­ne day to debate the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) annual report for 2002. The report was distributed to the members of parliament this morning.

Suhakam secretary Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria had submitted the report to secretary of Parliament Mohd Salleh Hassan o­n Monday.

DAP Human Rights Bureau chairperson Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Tanjong) said the party has decided to submit a memorandum asking Acting Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ( photo ) to move the motion.

However, it is unlikely that the report can be slotted for debate in the time left for the current sitting. The House adjourns tomorrow, after a two-day extension to the 18-day session.

Commissioners' complaint

Chow told reporters at the Parliament lobby that, although Suhakam's reports are important indicators of the level of human rights observance, none of the commission's findings have even been debated in Parliament.

Even if a debate is not possible during the current sitting, he said, the government should consider allocating time during the next sitting in June.

"We are not unreasonable. Since Parliament will adjourn tomorrow, they may not be able to do it today. However, they should do so as soon as possible in June," he said.

The memorandum states: "As it is the responsibility of Parliament to ensure that human rights in Malaysia are protected and advanced, we would like to request the government to allocate at least o­ne day for the debate.

"Suhakam's commissioners too have complained that parliamentarians do not care about their annual report."

Failed attempts

Chow said previous attempts by DAP leaders to submit a motion for debate had been frustrated by Dewan Rakyat Speaker (Dr Mohamed Zahir) o­n the grounds that the motion did not meet requirements under the Standing Order.

"Since the inception of Suhakam, the commission has presented four reports - the 2000 annual report, the 2001 annual report, the Freedom of Assembly report and the Kesas Highway report. Time has never been allocated for a debate," he said.

Last year, Suhakam chairperson Abu Talib Othman ( photo ) chastised the government for "not seeing fit" to debate Suhakam's annual report.

Under Sec 21(1) of the Suhakam Act, an annual report of the commission's work must be submitted to Parliament within the first sitting of the following year.