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While most Malaysians were busy going about their affairs at 10.00am this morning, a non-profit, non-governmental organisation known as Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) launched its 10th Human Rights Report entitled “Malaysia, Civil and Political Rights Status Report 2006”. The event was held at Cititel Hotel Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur. The report was officially launched at approximately 10.45 am by the guest speakers - representatives from the Chin Refugee Committee and a member of the Bukit Jelutong community.

SUARAM’s latest Report encompasses, among others, issues like 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 the Judiciary. The tenor of the Report is one of disappointment on the grounds that promises by the current administration to combat corruption and reform the police force remain largely unfulfilled. The Report also highlights with concern, a growing and unchecked intolerance in matters of religion, the concentration of media ownership in the hands of pro-government businessmen and Barisan Nasional component parties, open displays of racist sentiments and the apparent impotence of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM).

The Internal Security Act, the Emergency Ordinance and the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act, according to SUARAM’s report, continue to be a thorn in the flesh of the right to a fair trial. The Report revealed that in 2006, 20 persons were arrested under the ISA and over 700 were detained without trial under the Emergency Ordinance. The Report noted that the lackadaisical attitude of the government in dealing with the issue of detention without trial in Malaysia was perplexing, given that in September 2006, the Prime Minister issued a statement calling for 2 Malaysians detained without trial at Guantanamo Bay to be given a fair trial or be released forthwith.

The Malaysian police were not exempt from criticism in the Report as violent police actions, arbitrary detention of protestors and abuses while in police custody remain as problems. It is almost comical to note that even Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad described Malaysia as a ‘police state’ when he complained that the government used the police to prevent him from speaking at functions. SUARAM revealed that in 2006, there were 9 deaths, including 2 women while in police custody. Police brutality received much publicity when demonstrators against the oil price hike were subjected to beatings. One of the doctors who examined an injured demonstrator said that the force used on the demonstrator could have potentially been a fatal blow.

The growing dissatisfaction and intolerance among citizens in matters of religion is also mentioned in the report. One example that is highlighted are the death threats against constitutional lawyer, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, via email and SMS, for his involvement with the Article 11 coalition.

The SUARAM Report did not spare the Malaysian Judiciary from rebuke as it stated that the Subashini case is “another instance illustrating the reluctance of the civil courts to rule on cases where questions of Islam are involved”. The report also warns that the “the courts are becoming a politicized arena and that people are losing faith in the Judiciary”. Mention is also made of the 1988 judicial crisis and the call for review of the incident which appears to have fallen on deaf ears on the part of the Executive.

SUARAM’s 10th Human Rights Report is replete with examples of human rights violations and the government’s lack of impetus to satisfactorily address and resolve human rights issues which plague our nation. Our country intends to celebrate its 50th anniversary in grandeur but will it be a meaningful celebration when persecution, abuse, injustice and victimization remain as unresolved national problems?

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