complete denial is justified by the BN MPs due to the uniqueness of MalaysianThe infringement on human rights in Malaysia

Rais: Wrong to say ISA not up to standard of humanity KUALA LUMPUR (April 13, 2009) : The misconception that the Internal Security Act (ISA) is not up to the standard of humanity is wrong, said newly-appointed Information, Communication, Art and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim today. He said there was a process of habeas corpus where the operation of law operated on the person detained under the ISA, to apply to court and prove himself free from all blame against him.   "But that part has not been described by anybody. The mechanism that we have under the ISA, specifically Section 8 and 73, can be challenged through the process of habeas corpus, which system is also prevailent here, and therefore, to say that the ISA is not up to the standard of humanity is wrong," he said during an interview on talkshow 'Hardtalk' aired by BBC.   On why the law allowed indefinite detention without charge or trial, Rais replied that it was not indefinite as the Malaysian Government used a 60-day detention period, (just) like the Terrorism Act in Britian where suspects were held in detention for up to 21 days. The former foreign minister was also asked on the detention of blogger-cum-journalist Raja Petra Kamaruddin.    He explained that the blogger was detained not because he was a terrorist but on the grounds that he was prejudicial to the security of the law in the country.   Asked whether the ISA would be reformed or repealed, Rais said he believed that at one point, the Act would gradually develop into something which would be more compatible with the allowances demanded by the international community.     "The ISA was a graduation from the 1948 law given by the British...at that time, Malaya was subject to the guerilla war, the environment at that time, so it has developed into a system where it now became questionable to many people.   "We will take that challenge and we will gradually work it out to a point where the ISA must be amended at one point in the future," he said.    On Umno, Rais said that although there were certains defects in the party, the mechanism of improvement was there.   "Not all things are excellent inside, but (Tun) Dr Mahathir Mohamad, our former prime minister is coming back to the party to help, not to be engaged in executive function," he said.   He also dismissed talk that the sodomy charge against PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was one of Umno's way to deal with its opponents.   On the New Economic Policy which was said to be more favourable to the Malays, Rais said Malaysia's current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would take the best possible way to handle the matter.  -- BERNAMA

The infringement on human rights in Malaysia and at times its total and complete denial is justified by the BN MPs due to the uniqueness of Malaysian

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The infringement on human rights in Malaysia and at times its total and complete denial is justified by the BN MPs due to the uniqueness of Malaysian society. Its plurality, its diversity, its sensitivities.

By Khalid Samad, Suara Keadilan

Malaysia has many things which are unique. Its multiracial, multireligious and multilingual nature. Its flora and fauna. Its food. Its Parliament. The rest we can be proud of. Not the Parliament.

I dare say that it is the only Parliament in the world which when “debating” a Bill concerning human rights, the ruling party justifies and defends actions which are completely contrary to the spirit and understanding of human rights!

I would even venture to say that the BN MPs do not have the slightest inkling of what human rights are all about in the first place.

Let’s take it from the beginning though shall we. A Bill calling for the amendment of the original Suhakam Bill was tabled on March 24 morning and called for debate on March 25 morning. Hardly 24 hours’ notice. Almost an hour was used up by the PR MPs arguing against the way the Bill was being pushed through.

Not enough notice, not enough time to prepare, no time to do research and the such. The minister of course was unimpressed, replying it was only five (5) pages. In the process of the debate, Lim Kit Siang was sent out and banned from coming in until after 1pm.

When we finally started to debate the Bill, the arguments presented by the BN MPs were stupefying to say the least. They used the debate to justify the ISA, the banning of ceramahs and demonstrations and even the recent suspension of the permits forHarakah and Suara Keadilan!

Are we talking about the defence of human rights or the right to trample on human rights here? I doubt if the BN MPs know the difference.

The issue at hand was basic human rights. This means the rights which any human being, wherever and whatever he is, has a right to. The denial of these rights would constitute an act of injustice and suppression. The basic human rights include the right to life, honour, freedom, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of association, right to assemble, right to dissent and the rest.malaysia’s authoritarian mahatir resurgence dumb ideas versus reality achieved independence in 1957, then malaya was a model of parliamentary democracy, governed under a written constitution “that accorded full respect and dignity for each and every malayan”