Amid mounting criticisms from the government, Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) chairman Musa Hitam stood his grounds today, saying that the 17-month-old commission was only carrying out its duty as accorded by the law.

"Suhakam was formed through an act of parliament. What is important is that we are only carrying out our duties according to the Act,"he said.

Musa was speaking at a forum in conjunction with the Malaysian Human Rights Day at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

"We will continue doing our job whatever the challenges and we will take all criticisms positively to improve ourselves," Musa said.

However, at a press conference later, Musa refused to comment on Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's statement that the commission had produced a report which was 'biased and idealistic'.

Abdullah, who was also present at the press conference, criticised the commission's report on the 100,000 People's Gathering along Kesas highway in his speech when officiating the function earlier.

"I don't want to comment as this press conference is meant for the home minister. We can discuss this at another forum," said Musa, who was sitting beside Abdullah.

A noble duty

Since releasing its annual report, a landmark freedom-of-assembly report and the Kesas report, Suhakam has been censured heavily for being 'biased, unrealistic and western influenced'.

However, the commission has repeatedly argued the1999 Human Rights Commission Act allows the body to initiate inquiries into human rights abuses and make recommendations to the government on such matters.

"The Act itself is very interesting. We have some quarters telling us that it has no teeth and others saying that it is too expansive but to us the activities of Suhakam are carried out according to the Act and the laws of Malaysia," Musa said in his speech.

According to him, the 13-member commission is strengthened by three former judges as well as one professor of law, all of whom have vast experience in the legal field.

Musa also said the commission would continue to inculcate a culture of human rights in Malaysia and reminded the participants at the forum that human rights also encompassed social, economic and other spheres.

"In a short time, for better or for worse, we have managed to imprint the name of Suhakam into the minds of the people but whatever the views, we have to carry on with this noble duty," he vowed.

Home Ministry committee

Meanwhile, Abdullah told reporters that he would be chairing a home ministry committee which will look into the recommendations made by Suhakam in the Kesas report that found the police guilty of brutality and human rights violations.

"The police have looked at the report so now the committee will look into the issue and we will come up with a conclusion as soon as possible,' he said.

He also revealed that the police had concluded a separate study on the report and will submit their findings to the Home Ministry soon.

Yesterday, Abdullah announced that a Home Ministry committee, the police, the Prime Minister's Department and the Attorney-General's Chambers would be looking into the Kesas report.

"The view that the government would just chuck aside the report was baseless. We will study the report in depth,' Abdullah said.

Nevertheless, the home minister, who is in charge of the police, has earlier defended the force in its handling of anti-government protestors.

"Suhakam witnessed the 100,000 People's Gathering along the Kesas highway from the perspective of a observer and not from the viewpoint of the police who faced a large crowd.

"For the officers on that day, their goal was to disperse the illegal gathering and in carrying out their duties, they had to take stern actions," he said,

On Aug 29, Inspector-General of Police Norian Mai said that he had not paid much attention to the 66-page report as it was 'bias and unrealistic'.

On the allegation that participants, including women, of the gathering had been asked to strip naked in a police lock-up, Abdullah said that action would be taken if the allegations proved to be true.

"In challenging situations, anything can happen but we do not officially sanction violence, and if it did happen, we will take the appropriate action,' Abdullah said.

Taken aback

On the suggestion that another independent tribunal be set up to look further into the report, Abdullah said there was no such need.

He explained that the police had already completed a report on the matter.

However, when a reporter from a local daily asked him "how can the thief judge the thief", Abdullah appeared to be slightly taken aback

A visibly angry home minister rebutted, "Are we thieves?"

But he soon cooled down and broke into a smile.

The Kesas report is the result of a four-month long inquiry into allegations of police abuse during the gathering.

The commission released its scathing report on Aug 20 after hearing the testimonies of 46 witnesses, including Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and several police personnel.

Suhakam has designated today, Sept 9 - the day when the Human Rights Commission Act was approved in 1999 - as the Malaysian Human Rights Day.