The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) will be seen as a mere tool of the government to ease international human rights pressure on Malaysia if proposals of the commission are not debated in Parliament and by the Cabinet, a Chinese equal rights lobby group said today.

The Malaysian Chinese Organisations' Election Appeals Committee (Suqiu) said that if the government was sincere and committed towards Suhakam's role, Parliament and the Cabinet should discuss the commission's recommendations.

"This would determine whether Suhakam's maiden report presented to Parliament last week would be a cornerstone in our history or just a short-lifespan document," said Suqiu in a statement.

Suhakam's first annual report recommended the ratification of several international human rights instruments. It raised concerns on a wide variety of issues including detention without trial, restrictions on press freedom, independence of judges, discrimination against women and the treatment of indigenous people ([#1] Police urged to identify areas for peaceful rallies, Suhakam gives guidelines [/#], April 19).

In addition to the establishment of rules for peaceful assembly, Suhakam also suggested that permits for indoor meetings should be given as a general rule and certain public spaces should be allocated for peaceful outdoor assemblies.

Ethnic relations

The report also proposed reform of the legislative process to allow more public participation.

Suqiu said Parliament must reform itself to ensure that Bills go through the proper procedures before they became law.

"Bills now are rushed through and passed, denying experts, public interest groups and even members of parliament, time and opportunity to carefully study them and contribute their input.

"This has reduced Parliament to a legislative tool of the Cabinet and the Attorney-General's Chambers," said the statement.

Suqiu also called on Suhakam to include in its next report (for the year 2001), recommendations to repeal the Internal Security Act and other "draconian" legislation.

"Suqiu also sees a pressing need for Suhakam to study ethnic relations to eliminate discrimination and hate-crimes, especially following the racial clashes in Petaling Jaya Selatan recently," it said.

'Communists'

Suqiu came to national attention last year when Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad likened them to "communists in the past" in his Merdeka day speech last year over the committee's [#2] 17-point appeal [/#] which included the call for the abolishment of Bumiputra and non-Bumiputra distinction. The appeals were made before the 1999 general elections.

Suqiu then came under pressure to withdraw their election appeals, particularly from Umno Youth.

A series of meetings between Suqiu and Umno Youth beginning late last year resulted in the Chinese lobby group 'setting aside' seven of its 83-sub points considered sensitive on Jan 5 this year.

The parties cited escalating ethnic tension as the reason for Suqiu setting aside the seven points. The seven included calls for affirmative action to be based on the protection and enhancement of the status of the weaker sectors and not on race, social background and religious beliefs and to abolish in all aspects, the Bumiputra and non-Bumiputra distinction.