Human rights organisation Suaram and 22 other non-governmental organisations endorsed a memorandum today listing out their demands and expectations of candidates contesting in the 11 th general election.

They also alleged in the memorandum that their consistent demands for reforms had fallen on deaf ears prompting them to "call on the electorate to challenge all parties and candidates to endorse our demands for concrete reforms in the various sectors of society".

The memo was unveiled this morning at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall by Suaram director Dr Kua Kia Soong.

The 22 NGOs backing the memo are the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns, Civil Rights Committee, Community Development Centre, Group of Concerned Citizens, Kommunikasi Masyarakat, Kumpulan Kemajuan Masyarakat, Labour Resource Centre, Malaysian Indian Youth Council, Malaysian Youth and Student Democratic Movement, Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections, Persatuan Kebangsaan Hak Asasi Manusia, Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan, Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor, Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Women Section, Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section, Sinui Pai Nanek Sesnzik, Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia, SOS Damansara, SOS Selangor, Tenaganita and Women Candidacy Initiative.

The memorandum also stated that "new Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's policy tinkering is not sufficient to qualify as concrete reforms." Thus, they are calling for all the demands in the memorandum to be endorsed rather than in parts as a gesture that the candidates consistently believe in upholding justice, democracy and human rights.

List of demands

The NGOs have listed 13 demands on the memorandum and the reforms called for, among others, are promoting equality and outlaw racism; enforce genuine democracy; restore civil and political rights; eradicate corruption at all levels; introduce a fair and equitable economic policy; protect and improve social services.

Other reforms sought are for a progressive education policy; protect and advance women's rights; guarantee the independence of the media and freedom of expression; protect and advance workers' rights; protect the rights of indigenous people; protect the environment; and restore public confidence in the police force.

In calling for equality and outlawing racism, the memorandum states that for all policies on restructuring of society to be based on deserving classes and sectors and not on race.

It also wants a legislation and a commission to be set up to combat racism, racial discrimination and hate crimes.

The NGOs also demanded that the Internal Security Act and all other legislation that allow detention without trial to be abolished and to review and ensure that all laws tow the line of international human rights standards.

They called for the Anti-Corruption Agency to be reconstituted so that it is truly accountable to Parliament and to make it obligatory for "all elected representatives and civil servants to publicly declare their assets".

Candidates have been told to introduce a fair and equitable policy whereby entrepreneurs are given opportunities not because of their race nor the official cronies and without nepotism.

On education

The welfare of teachers were not overlooked as they are the spine of all education systems. The memorandum demanded that teachers' salaries be raised and their status elevated as incentives to propel them to perform at their peak.

The student quota system was also under fire and it was demanded that these intake of students be based on merits rather than race to ensure deserving students get to enter the government-run local colleges and universities.

Women's rights, workers rights and indigenous rights are on the list demanding discriminatory laws and practices be abolished, development of these people and to provide a conducive working and living environment for them.

Media freedom was also on the list and it was demanded that an independent body be set up to regulate the government-controlled RTM and to free the media by reviewing laws which restricts freedom of speech and the yearly renewal of media permit.

On police brutality, it was demanded that all cases of torture, death in custody and abuse of power be investigated and prosecuted, besides demanding that the force be more stringent when recruiting personnel and to revamp the whole force.