Opposition leaders commended the Human Rights Commission's (Suhakam) maiden annual report which was submitted to Parliament yesterday.

Keadilan deputy president Dr Chandra Muzaffar today described the report as "well thought" and said Suhakam was right in asking the government to ratify three international agreements relating to human rights issues.

They are the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economics, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention against Torture.

"The three documents are fundamental to the protection of the rights and dignity of the human being. Ratification would mean that Malaysians will have to conform to certain established universal standards in the treatment of its citizens," said Chandra in a statement.

On Suhakam's interim recommendation for freedom of assembly, Chandra said such freedom will become meaningful only if the Police Act was repealed or radically amended.

In the report, Suhakam stated that peaceful assemblies should be allowed, but called for them to be orderly, which it said can only be achieved by mutually acceptable procedures.

The commission had said applications for permits to hold indoor meetings should be approved as a general rule and public spaces should be allocated for peaceful outdoor assemblies.

Special debate

At present, local laws, including the Police Act, empower the police to declare any assembly illegal and also to break it up.

Chandra also supported Suhakam's emphasis on human rights education to inculcate the public with greater consciousness on the importance of freedom and other human rights aspects.

Meanwhile, DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang said Parliament should allocate at least two days for a special debate on the report.

He said only a special debate will give full meaning to the establishment of the commission to protect and promote human rights in the country.

"Parliament's failure to have a special debate on the Suhakam report would be a gross act of parliamentary irresponsibility and negligence, downgrading the importance of human rights in the country," said Lim in a statement.

The report is expected to be debated in Parliament next week during question time. However, no specific time has been allocated for any special debate.

Respect views

DAP youth wing leader Teng Chang Khim also commended Suhakam for considering certain proposals of the Barisan Alternatif (BA) Youth memorandum.

"Suhakam has obviously taken into consideration our views which we submitted in our meeting, that the police permit for public gatherings should be issued as a matter of general rule," said Teng who is also the Bandar Klang state assembly representative.

The government should respect Suhakam's views and ensure the commission is given full co-operation in carrying out its duties effectively and efficiently, he added.

In its report, Suhakam also raised concerns about laws permitting detention without trial, restrictions on press freedom, the independence of judges, discrimination against women and the treatment of indigenous peoples.

The 63-page report covered a period of eight months beginning from Suhakam's inception last April.

The report also stated that the demand for civil and political rights has become louder in Malaysia, as the country has developed and its citizens have become better educated and are more sophisticated.

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