Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang submitted a motion to Parliament on June 21 seeking a full debate on the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) 2004 annual report.

In his motion, Lim urged the House to take note of Suhakam's annual report and resolve to set up a Parliamentary Select Committee on Human Rights to examine it.

The ordinary motion submitted under Standing Order 27 (3) requires 14 days' notice. It will be displayed in the order paper, but whether it will be debated will depend on availability of time.

Lim, who is Ipoh Timor MP, said Parliament had never debated Suhakam's annual reports although Suhakam is required by law to be accountable to Parliament by specifically submitting its report to Parliament.

"Parliament has done itself, Suhakam and human rights a grave disservice and such undesirable past practice of simply ignoring Suhakam's reports should not be continued by Parliament," Lim said.

He also said that he had written to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to request for two to five-day extension of parliament to allow a full debate on both the Royal Police Commission's report and Suhakam's annual report.

In his letter to the premier, he said the government should support the request for a three-day debate on the Royal Police Commission Report and a two-day debate on the Suhakam's 2004 Report.

Rejected four times

Parliament has rejected four annual reports of Suhakam for debate since the human rights organisation was established in 1999. The reasons given were that there was not a specific time allotted to the House to debate the report as government business should be given priority.

Suhakam 2004 report, tabled on June 20, revealed that ISA detentions had increased last year. The report called for the repeal of the ISA and the enactment of a new comprehensive law. The commission also commented that detention without trial was an 'extreme form of detention'.

The Royal Police Commission's 607-page report meanwhile, which took more than a year to finish, was made available to the public on May 16. It contains 125 recommendations for the improvement of the police force.

The government has formed five sub-committees under a cabinet task force chaired by Abdullah to study the recommendations and their possible implementation.