Human rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) today called on the government to take a more holistic approach in promoting and protecting human rights in the country.

Otherwise, it cautioned, the 'grand promises' made by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who has called for reforms within the police force and transparency and accountability in governance will remain mere 'rhetorics'.

Suaram director Yap Swee Seng ( right ) said that while the premier's initiative in trying to fulfill his promises is positive, more should be done to improve human rights condition in the country.

"We commend the prime minister for taking some positive steps toward the direction of trying to realise the promises, such as the setting up of two independent commissions on police reform and body search procedures and the appointment of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the amendment of Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and the Penal Code.

"While these initiatives have been encouraging, the status of civil and political rights in Malaysia in 2005, however, shows little improvement, despite two years after the premier took office," he said when presenting an overview of the Suaram's 2005 Human Rights Report today.

He was of the view that the lack of human rights improvement can be attributed to the lack of political will on the part of Abdullah to carry through positive measures that have been implemented.

He argued that the recommendation of these commissions will be meaningless if the government does not translate them into tangible laws.

Insufficient steps

As for the attempts to improve the CPC and the Penal Code, Yap said that reforming the two statutes is not sufficient to enhance human rights protection in Malaysia.

"...It is insufficient to only reform the CPC and the Penal Code when there are a whole host of laws that violate human rights, especially the laws that provide for detention without trial that account for some of the most severe human rights violations."

Holding similar views was Bar Council president Yeoh Yang Poh who said little has improved since Abdullah took over from his predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2003.

"We witnessed the Bloody Sunday - but what has been done after that? A lot of talks going on, but nothing change," he said in his speech at the report's launch.

He was referring to the May 28 incident where the police armed with baton and shields, bludgeoned and kicked a number of protesters when dispersing the 500-strong group, who was protesting against fuel and power price hikes.

Two were seriously injured - one requiring five stitches on his head while another suffered from a broken arm.

Yeoh also commended Suaram's effort in publishing the report which has documented all events relating to Malaysia's human right condition.

In the 153-paged report, Suaram had touched the issues of detention without trial, abuse of police powers, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of assembly and association, freedom of religion, the law and the judiciary, refugees, asylum-seekers and undocumented migrants, and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).

The report which is Suaram's ninth edition since 1996, among others, call for:

  • An overhaul the appointment of commissioners in Suhakam

  • The recommendations of the Police Royal Commission to abolish Restricted Residence Act and the Emenergency Ordinance to be adopted

  • The abolishment of the Internal Security Act and the Dangerous Drugs Act

  • The establishment of a special coroner court to inquire into death in custody cases