Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) said today that it is looking into other laws that allow for detention without trial in order to come up with recommendations on how to minimise abuse of this wide-ranging power.

Commissioner Hamdan Adnan said Suhakam is firmly against any acts of detention without trial, not only for political prisoners but other persons who have been placed under these provisions.

"We are aware that there are more people being held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and (the Emergency Ordinance) at the Simpang Renggam detention centre. These people tend to be neglected because they are not political prisoners but we will continue to visit them," he said during a meeting with human rights organisation Suaram.

"We are also reviewing other laws (aside from the ISA) which allow for detention without trial," said another commissioner, Zainah Anwar who was also present.

The Internal Security Act (ISA) allows for the government to indefinitely detain any person suspected of committing acts which threaten national security. Such orders are renewable every two years.

During Suhakam's inquiry at the Kamunting Detention Centre in July 2001, other persons found held under the law include those accused of money counterfeiting , trafficking of illegal immigrants and vice activities.

The Emergency Ordinance (EO) has also been used by the police to detain alleged gangsters. Last year, the media reported the death of S Tharma Rajen while in police custody under this law.

Hamdan said Suhakam had stressed the importance of human rights observance by police officers during a workshop this morning.

"There were about 50 police instructors at the workshop. We want the police to be more professional in their duties," he said.

Suaram annual report

Earlier, Suaram representative Eric Paulsen presented the commissioners with copies of their human rights annual report for 2002.

Paulsen said its review on Suhakam in the report contained some criticism and he hoped that the commission would take a more preventive approach to human rights, as opposed to a reactive one.

"We want to highlight the importance of follow-up activities by Suhakam. For example, there was the case of Tharma Rajen who died in police custody and the issue of refugees. We would like to know the findings of the commission and the reports, if there are any," he said.

Suaram executive director Cynthia Gabriel said the presentation of the annual report to Suhakam was also intended to increase engagement between the two organisations.

"We hope the report would be a basis for civil society to come together for constant consultation with Suhakam," she said.

Gabriel suggested that Suhakam widen the scope of documentation on rights abuses by coming up with a separate report (aside from its annual report) which includes more details on rights abuses as reported to the commission.

Lack of response

Responding to this, Zainah said the commission was also constantly pushing the government to adopt its recommendations.

"We too have a problem with the lack of response by the government. We have to strategise on different ways as well to maintain the pressure and sustain the interest of politicians in order for them to carry out reforms," she said.

Suhakam is required by law to submit an annual report to Parliament of its activities during the previous year.

To date, Suhakam has recommended that the government repeals the ISA, and if necessary, enact another security law which clearly specifies the type of offences which can be classified as national security offences so as to prevent abuse.

The commission has also suggested that the government ratify another international convention, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

However, the government has not responded to the recommendations.

Although the commission's annual report was submitted to Parliament during the last parliamentary sitting in April, its findings have also not been debated in the Dewan Rakyat.