The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) will conduct a series of public talks, seminars and conferences soon to explain its review of the Internal Security Act (ISA), said a commissioner today.

When contacted, Suhakam's law reform working group chairperson KC Vohrah said it will be part of an awareness campaign to educate people o­n ISA and the recommendations that were made in its report which was released last week.

The working group will meet next week to start planning the public talks.

"We are also inviting lawyers, human rights groups and other non-governmental organisations to discuss the modalities," he said.

"As part of the public education of human rights, we are giving out copies of the ISA review report. Any interested party can walk in and collect it for free," he added.

Vohrah said copies have already been distributed to cabinet ministers and the police, including Inspector-General of Police Norian Mai for their consideration and feedback.

In the review report, Suhakam recommended for the ISA to be replaced by a comprehensive security law to redress the existing bias towards national security which has had an adverse impact o­n human rights in the country.

It also urged the government to start taking interim measures, including amending the ISA, pending the passing of a new security law.

Manpower constraints

Responding to an opposition leader's criticism over the coincidental release of the ISA review report and Suhakam's annual report, Vohrah said it was due to time and manpower constraints.

"We had to rush for time as we had to submit the annual report to both houses of parliament. There is nothing sinister at all about the timing of releasing the reports."

DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang had expressed surprise over the release of both reports o­n the same day, and blamed the commission for the missed opportunity of a detailed public scrutiny over its annual report.

None of Suhakam's annual and subject-specific reports have been debated in the Dewan Rakyat due to various reasons.

Previous attempts by DAP MPs to move a motion to debate the reports had been thwarted by the Speaker o­n grounds that it did not conform to requirements under the Standing Order.