From Malaysia Kini
Malaysia must urgently introduce reforms to justify its bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.
It called on the government to abolish security laws that allow detention without trial, overhaul legislation limiting freedom of expression, protect migrant workers, and ratify international rights treaties.
“Malaysia needs to show a stronger commitment to human rights if it wants to be taken seriously at the Human Rights Council,” said Phil Robertson, the US-based group’s deputy Asia director.
“We don’t want to see a repeat of 2006, when Malaysia made a series of promises while seeking a seat, then broke them all,” he said in a statement.
Malaysia previously served on the UN council from 2006 to 2009, and announced plans last year to seek a place for the council’s 2010-2013 term in elections that take place on May 13.
Msia’s election likely
Human Rights Watch said Iran’s withdrawal last week left only four candidates for four Asian seats, making Malaysia’s election likely, but added that it still has to win the support of a majority of the UN General Assembly.
It called on Malaysia to issue a standing invitation to UN rights experts to visit the country, saying there were eight pending applications for visits, some dating back to 2002.
The watchdog called for the removal of the tough Internal Security Act (ISA), which dates from the colonial era and has been used to detain political opponents as well as suspected terrorists.
“On and off promises to tinker with the ISA are not enough, it’s time the law was scrapped,” Robertson said.
The government said late last year it would amend the ISA during the current parliamentary sitting but announced last month that the changes would be delayed.
In its annual report last year, leading Malaysian rights group Suaram criticised Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s performance since he took office in 2009, including the arrest of nearly 600 people in an anti-ISA protest.
- AFP
Malaysia must urgently introduce reforms to justify its bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.
It called on the government to abolish security laws that allow detention without trial, overhaul legislation limiting freedom of expression, protect migrant workers, and ratify international rights treaties.
“Malaysia needs to show a stronger commitment to human rights if it wants to be taken seriously at the Human Rights Council,” said Phil Robertson, the US-based group’s deputy Asia director.
“We don’t want to see a repeat of 2006, when Malaysia made a series of promises while seeking a seat, then broke them all,” he said in a statement.
Malaysia previously served on the UN council from 2006 to 2009, and announced plans last year to seek a place for the council’s 2010-2013 term in elections that take place on May 13.
Msia’s election likely
Human Rights Watch said Iran’s withdrawal last week left only four candidates for four Asian seats, making Malaysia’s election likely, but added that it still has to win the support of a majority of the UN General Assembly.
It called on Malaysia to issue a standing invitation to UN rights experts to visit the country, saying there were eight pending applications for visits, some dating back to 2002.
The watchdog called for the removal of the tough Internal Security Act (ISA), which dates from the colonial era and has been used to detain political opponents as well as suspected terrorists.
“On and off promises to tinker with the ISA are not enough, it’s time the law was scrapped,” Robertson said.
The government said late last year it would amend the ISA during the current parliamentary sitting but announced last month that the changes would be delayed.
In its annual report last year, leading Malaysian rights group Suaram criticised Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s performance since he took office in 2009, including the arrest of nearly 600 people in an anti-ISA protest.
- AFP
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