DAP, Gerakan back Suhakam debate in Parliament

Although coming from opposite sides of the political divide, Gerakan and DAP have both called on the government to allow the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) report to be debated in Parliament.

Through separate statements, Gerakan's deputy president Cheah Soon Hai and DAP parliamentarian Teresa Kok said they strongly backed Suhakam chairperson Hasmy Agam's (left) call this week to set up a special committee in Parliament to debate its annual report.

“What serious and effective role can Suhakam play if the government does not allow full debate of its reports in Parliament?” Kok, the MP for Seputeh, said.

She noted that Suhakam, which was formed in 1999, has submitted 12 annual reports to Parliament but none have ever been allowed full debate.

Gerakan's Cheah said the BN component party also threw his support behind Suhakam. He commended it for tirelessly defending and fostering respect for human rights.

"Gerakan is ready to collaborate with all parties to promote human rights in the country as it is a universal cause that should not be hindered by partisan politicking," he said in a statement.

Cheah (right) also urged the government to ratify the remaining six major core of the international human rights treaties to raise the country’s profile and display its full commitment to human rights.

So far, Malaysia had ratified only three out of nine major human rights treaties since 1995, which is Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (CRPD).

He also suggested human rights education be taught in schools to raise awareness.

DAP's Kok, meanwhile, said that highlighting the Suhakam report would raise democratic standards in Malaysia as done in other countries.

"Two years ago, the prime minister pledged to make Malaysia ‘the best democracy in the world’.

"If Najib is serious about his ‘best democracy’ declaration, he should allow full parliamentary debate of Suhakam’s annual reports," she said.

She noted also that DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang had previously labelled the failure to debate Suhakam's annual report as "a triple injustice to Suhakam, human rights and the institution of Parliament itself".