Human rights organisations are crying foul over the proposed amendments to the Registration of Businesses Act, which would empower the authorities to revoke or refuse licenses to organisations which they deem to be involved in unlawful activities.

Executive director of human rights group Suaram Cynthia Gabriel said today that the proposed amendments was a 'shadowy attempt by the government to stifle the civil society and the freedom to associate'.

"It appears that the amendments are an attempt by the government to thwart the mushrooming of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and assail those in existence, by further restricting our democratic space and our right to expression," said Gabriel.

Tabled in Parliament yesterday, the amendments would not only give the government the power to revoke or refuse licenses, but would also require businesses to register within a month of commencement. Expired business licenses would have to be renewed within a month as well.

'Many obstacles'

Many NGO's including Suaram have attempted to register with the Registrar of Societies, but Gabriel claimed that there were 'too many obstacles', forcing them to register with the Registrar of Companies instead.

Citing an example, Gabriel said that the National Human Rights Society (Hakam) had to wait for two years before it was registered as a society.

She also expressed her concern on whether the proposed amendments were formulated with the intention to 'threaten and intimidate' groups such as Suaram and 'briskly wipe out' advocates for human rights.

According to the Societies Act, the Registrar of Societies may refuse registration if the society is to be "used for unlawful purposes or any purpose prejudicial to or incompatible with peace, welfare, security, public order, good order or morality in Malaysia".

The Act also furnishes the Home Minister total discretion in declaring any society unlawful.

No reasons

Meanwhile, Joseph Paul of Amnesty International (AI) told malaysiakini that he had attempted to register a local chapter of the international human rights group under the Societies Act but was rejected twice.

"We were never given reasons for the rejection. There needs to be more accountability and transparency in the process," Paul said.

Paul, has instead registered Amnesty Initiatives, registered as a business carrying out marketing campaigns, to provide a meeting point for local AI members.

"If the Registrar of Societies had allowed groups to register as societies then we would not have this phenomenon of them registering as businesses," Paul said.

He added that if the government decides to revoke the license of any such businesses, it must first provide grounds for its action.

"They can give the Registrar any powers provided that he is accountable, can justify his reasons in court and not make unilateral moves.

"If not, we are moving back into the Dark Ages where kings in fiefdoms had unbridled control," he added.