A member of parliament today questioned the independence of the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) and proposed that the commission be given more powers to do its job.

DAP member of parliament for Seputeh Teresa Kok said Suhakam's chairperson Musa Hitam should be accorded more authority to carry out his duties on human rights issues in order to ensure the commission's independence.

"Allow Musa to use his role as Suhakam's chairperson and as former deputy prime minister of Malaysia to effect change and improve human rights condition in the country so that we can achieve standards there are at par with the Paris Principle and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," she said.

Speaking during debate time in Parliament on the Eight Malaysia Plan (8MP), Kok lauded Suhakam for a job well done despite "frequent disturbances" from Umno and several government leaders.

"Those who have been victimised by injustice and those who have lost faith in the Malaysian courts place newly found hope on Suhakam," she said.

She commended Suhakam for its recommendations to the government to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention Against Torture.

Elite group

"However, Kok criticised Suhakam's first annual report to Parliament which was recently presented to the House Speaker Mohamad Zahir Ismail.

She said the report was "too simple" and did not present a deeper analysis and criticism of the real human rights situation in the country despite the human rights commissioners being professionals.

She queried whether Suhakam was aware of society's need for the basic right of freedom of assembly and why this issue was listed by the commission only as an interim recommendation

"Is this because Suhakam does not want to go against a government which often tries to stop people from exercising their right to freedom of assembly?" she asked.

Kok also queried why the Suhakam annual report was only published in English and not in Bahasa Malaysia, which would make it more widely understood by all levels of society.

"Is this report designated only for an elite group of people and the international community and not for the rakyat ?" she asked.

Window dressing

She also suggested more leaflets be printed by Suhakam in various languages to educate more Malaysians on human rights issues.

"This includes ignorant Barisan Nasional MPs who up to this day continue to glorify such laws as the Internal Security Act, the Official Secrets Act, the Printing Presses and Publication Act and the Universities and Colleges Act," she said.

Kok also said the government should re-examine its motive for establishing Suhakam.

"Does the government hope to use Suhakam for 'window dressing' or is the government sincere in wanting to amend laws and improve the human rights situation in the country?" she asked.

Kok said Suhakam should not be used as a public relations exercise and the government should instead heed the recommendations of the commissioners and stop interfering with their roles and duties.