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KUALA LUMPUR, 8 December 2006: Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), a non-profit NGO committed to defending and promoting human rights, today released the overview of their leading annual human rights report on Malaysia. With special focus on civil and political rights, the report documents cases of gains and abuses in the field of human rights during the year.

The 10-chapter overview including the introduction covers issues of detention without trial, abuse of police powers, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of information, freedom of assembly and association, freedom of religion, the law and Judiciary, refugees, asylum-seekers and undocumented migrants and SUHAKAM.

A press conference attended by the media, interested members of the public and representatives from foreign missions such as the Philippines, Australian, Swedish, Finnish, Sri Lankan, Canadian and German embassies was held this morning.

SUARAM’s Executive Director, Yap Swee Seng together with Secretariat members, Elizabeth Wong and S. Arutchelvan highlighted key points of the report. Among the observations made were as follows:

• The 3rd year of Badawi’s administration has shown little improvement in the area of civil liberties despite encouraging rhetoric from the Government.

• The hypocrisy of the Government in continuing with the practice of arbitrary detentions under the Internal Security Act, Dangerous Drugs Act and Emergency Ordinance is evident by its condemnation of the US currently holding 2 Malaysians without trial in Guantanamo Bay.

• Effective reform of the police force is still pending despite pledges by the Government, and wide-ranging recommendations by the Royal Commission To Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police.

• Increased interventionist policies are being played out by the Government in curbing freedom of the press with the suspension of 3 newspapers, ban of 1 newspaper and resignation of 2 editors.

• The constitutional right to freedom of religion continues to elude Malaysians with the Judiciary failing in its duties to accord real access to justice to litigants in several cases.

• Greater polarisation, and heightened levels of distrust and division among different religious and ethnic groups have led to violent street protests and death threats.

• The clarion call by the Bar Council for a fresh review of the 1988 judicial crisis which led to the sacking of top judicial officials has been ignored by the Government.

• SUHAKAM’s credibility continues to be questioned with insufficient regard given to their reports by the Government, and public confidence in it fading as fewer complaints are being recorded.

• The Government’s denial of country visits by the United Nations (UN) Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Human Rights Defenders, Hina Jilani and UN Special Rapporteur on Promoting and Protecting Human Rights while Countering Terrorism, Martin Scheinin raises questions about Malaysia’s sincerity in upholding rights.

• The failure of the Government to submit its 1997 and 2002 reports to the UN Committee of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its 2004 report to the UN Committee of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women continues to leave a blemish on Malaysia’s record as a member of the UN Human Rights Council.

Yap summarised the concern of SUARAM referring to 3 emerging trends in Malaysia:

• The trend of intolerance and racism played out by political actors with pointed reference to the recent UMNO General Assembly speeches.

• The trend of religious rights violations by both State and non-State actors through the rising culture of vigilante.

• The trend of attacks on the media by direct (such as the resignation of the China Press editors) and indirect interventions through the concentration of media ownership with political, ruling party-associates (such as Media Prima and Tiong Hew King).

On press freedom, Wong said that there were only 5 show-cause letters sent by the Government to various media corporations last year as compared to 115 this year; and more regular meetings were conducted this year between media representatives directly with the Prime Minister (and his associates) at the latter’s requests.

Arutchelvan warned that the Badawi administration gave the impression of improving rights conditions with the setting up of committees to make recommendations, but this was only a façade to placate criticisms of his administration without real action on the recommendations made.

The full report will be released next year and be given to all Members of Parliament.

Further information on the report may be accessed at www.suaram.net.

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