Representatives of Asia-Pacific non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have endorsed a resolution condemning the Malaysian government for using the Internal Security Act (ISA) against political leaders and activists.

The resolution was tabled by Malaysia at the Asia-Pacific NGO Meeting during the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR) held in Kathmandu, Nepal last month.

Women's Aid Organisation president Meera Samanther, who attended the conference, said today that those who signed the resolution urged the Malaysian government to "immediately and unconditionally release all those detained under ISA".

"We condemn the arbitrary detention and harassment of those detained in the custody of law enforcement agencies and in the detention camps of Malaysia and urge the government of Malaysia to respect their human rights and dignity," stated the resolution, which is currently being circulated to NGOs in non-Asia-Pacific countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States.

"We are calling for their immediate unconditional release and not for the detainees to be tried in court for we fear evidence will be fabricated. We also ask for a complete repeal of the Act and not a review," said Meera.

Migrant workers exploited

Apart from the resolution on the ISA, the Malaysian representatives tabled another resolution on migrant workers that was also endorsed.

"This second resolution urges the governments of Nepal, Indonesia and Bangladesh to immediately ratify the United Nations Convention on the Protection of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families as it particularly affords protection for the rights of their people as migrant workers," said Meera.

The resolution stated that the three countries who have interests as sending countries must recognise that migrant workers play a critical role in the global economy.

Meera explained that migrants are frequently treated as second-class citizens in their countries of destination. Racist, discriminatory state policies of host and receiving countries result in the exploitation of migrant workers - both documented and non-documented.

"Migrants are discriminated against in terms of wages, job security, working conditions, their right to unionise and access to labour and social welfare services. They are also subjected to physical and sexual abuse. They are not given access to the law or treated equally under the law," said Meera.

She added that the most vulnerable are the foreign domestic helpers, who are exclusively females.

"There is so much discrimination against migrant workers but it is not so in the case of expatriates. Does Malaysia practise double standards?" questioned Meera, referring to the compulsory pregnancy and HIV tests that the migrant workers are subjected to, but not expatriates.

"In line with this resolution, sending and receiving countries should draw up standard employment contracts and recruitment agencies should also be made liable," said Meera.