Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is 'bad news' for human rights, according to rights group Suaram.

"The current PM is increasingly seen to be bad news judging by the key trends this year," said Suaram secretariat member Elizabeth Wong.

Speaking at the launch of the 'Malaysia, Civil and Political Rights Status Report 2006' in Kuala Lumpur today, she also described the government as 'extreme interventionist' when referring to the clamp down on press freedom.

She pointed out that there has been three recorded meetings by the PM with editors from the local press and an increase of show cause letters being sent out by the Internal Security Ministry this year compared to last year.

Suaram secretary general S Arutchelvan said Abdullah has a tendency to form committees but not implement recommendations made by them.

"Many committees are formed and recommendations are made but none of them are never implemented. Amendments are never done.

"When things become sensitive, the PM will say the government will come up with something, the controlled papers will stop reporting on it and the issue does not get resolved," he told the audience made up of reporters and representatives from various embassies.

Three key trends

Suaram's executive director Yap Swee Seng said Malaysia's human rights records has not changed for the better and mentioned three key trends under the PM's tenure.

Intolerance towards freedom of religion and racial sentiments are on the rise especially during the Umno general assembly held recently

The growth of a vigilant culture in violating human rights by untrained voluntary reserve force Rela in arresting refugees and undocumented workers

Attack on the media through licence suspension, government intervention and concentration of media ownership

The full human rights report will be out next year.