Amnesty International today urged parliamentarians who are elected in weekend polls to repeal or amend legislation that allows detention without trial and abolish the death penalty.

Basic human rights enshrined in the constitution and international laws had been gradually "eroded" as government powers grew, Amnesty's Malaysian chapter said, urging legislators who are elected in Sunday's polls to work for improved protection and promotion of these rights.

"The organisation believes that the upcoming elections present an important opportunity to develop and consolidate a nationwide culture of respect for human rights," the rights watchdog said in a press statement.

It noted a "negative trend" in human rights, highlighted by the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) which allows detention without trial and alleged restrictions on the freedom of expression and assembly.

Amnesty called on "all future parliamentarians to play an active role in scrutinising and reviewing such laws to ensure that they are in conformity with human rights principles."

In particular, the group urged "all parties to commit to the repeal or amendment of emergency and national security laws, including the ISA, so that such laws no longer allow for detention without trial."

Stop executions

A total of more than 80 alleged Islamic militants are held under Malaysia's ISA, which allows for two-year detention periods that can be renewed indefinitely.

Sixteen of the detainees, suspected of having links to militant organisations, have been on hunger strike for more than three weeks to press for their freedom.

The detainees include Nik Adli, son of the spiritual leader of the fundamentalist Islamic Party which is challenging the ruling National Front coalition in the elections.

The government has said the ISA remains an important tool in the fight against terrorism.

Amnesty also said future legislators should commit to the declaration of an immediate moratorium on executions as a first step towards scrapping capital punishment.

"The death penalty is a violation of the right to life as well as the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment," it said, adding there was no evidence it was a deterrent to crime.

Other reforms proposed by Amnesty include amendments to the Sedition Act and other laws that infringe on civil liberties and the protection of refugees and asylum seekers. - AFP