2 theSun
news without borders
Suhakam admits
it has no bite
by Charles Ramendran
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Rights Commission (Su-
hakam) has admitted that its advice to the government
that peaceful street protests or rallies be allowed has
fallen on deaf ears.
Commissioner Tan Sri Prof Khoo Khay Kim said Su-
hakam was helpless in such instances as it lacked the
authority to compel its recommendations be followed.
He said due to its inadequacies and the government’s
failure to adhere to the commission’s advice, Malaysia’s
position on human rights matters on the international
scale has deteriorated over the years.
“Suhakam is not all that independent and lacks
power and authority.
“We cannot change laws. We are only able to raise
human rights issues and make recommendations, but
the lawmakers should bring about the changes,” Khoo
said.
“Justice must not only be done but also be seen to
be done.
“In a democracy, the people are always right and
they decide how the country is run. So, as voters they
must decide what they want,” he said yesterday when
receiving a memorandum from a group of Suaram
coordinators on the high-handedness of the police in
handling last Saturday’s anti-ISA protest at the commis-
sion’s headquarters at Jalan Raja Laut.
Suaram coordinator and GMI secretary E. Nalini told
Khoo that Suhakam should play a significant and con-
crete role in human rights matters instead of meek and
subtle approaches which have not resolved the issue
despite being brought to its attention over the years.
Reading out the memorandum, another Suaram
coordinator Temme Lee said police had gone overboard
in their actions at last week’s rally, including using ex-
cessive chemicals in the water they used to spray on
protesters.
“The water from the water cannons stung and
burned worse than other times in the past. They prob-
ably laced it with a stronger concentration of chemi-
cals,” she said.
She said the arrest of underaged individuals includ-
ing the remand order of four days on a 16-year-old boy
should also be condemned.
Khoo said Suhakam will try to make a firm decision
to overcome the problems faced by organisers of such
rallies.
“The police and judiciary should not interfere or get
involved in politics. They should be apolitical and uphold
only what they are entrusted with by the people.” he
said.
Malaysia mulls joint oil
Ministry
lifts control
on Tamiflu
pg 5
exploration with Brunei
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Ma-
laysia has proposed to Brunei the
possibility of embarking on joint oil
exploration in the territorial waters
of both countries.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib
Abdul Razak said yesterday the
government was also looking at
various aspects, including the role
of Petronas, which would be worked
out within the framework of the Ma-
laysia-Brunei Letters of Exchange
( L o E s )
Remembering
history ...
Former
prime
minister
Tun Dr
Mahathir
Mohamad
and
wife Siti
Hasmah
Mohamad
Ali lay a
wreath at
the 64th
memorial
service for
the atomic
bomb
victims at
the Peace
Memorial
Park in
Hiroshima,
Japan
yesterday.
pertaining to
the demarcation of land and mari-
time borders.
“I don’t want to go into specifics
but the Brunei side is aware of some
of the things that we would like them
to take into account,” he told Ma-
laysian journalists at the end of his
three-day official visit here to attend
the 13th annual leaders’ consultation
between the two countries.
He said the proposal was among
the consequential matters following
the signing of the LoEs on March
16 in which he and Sultan Hassanal
Bolkiah reaffirmed their commit-
ment to work together towards the
briefs
Nik Aziz’s presence a
good sign, says PM
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Kelantan
Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz
Nik Mat’s presence at the visit to the
East Coast Economic Region’s Special
Economic Zone two days ago shows
the PAS leader’s desire to forge good
relations with the federal government,
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul
Razak said here yesterday.
He said relations between the
federal government and state govern-
ments, especially those under opposi-
tion rule, should not be an issue but
the interest of the people, including in
implementation of elements
agreed upon in the document.
“The important thing is that
there is a principal agreement
on both land and maritime
border issues so we can now
move forward and not al-
low that to get in the way of
improving bilateral ties,” he
said.
He said the
AFPPIX
survey of
the demarcation work on the
ground might take some time due to
the long boundary.
On the proposed collaborations
between the two countries, includ-
ing the energy, hydro, halal hub,
Islamic banking, oil palm cluster
and tourism sectors, Najib said the
cabinet ministers had been tasked
to discuss such matters with their
Brunei counterparts, and Wisma
Putra and Foreign Minister Datuk
Anifah Aman would then coordinate
things.
“I think there is a desire to make
things happen quickly and I am
hoping that by the time the next
consultation takes place in Malaysia
Kelantan, should be given attention in
a fair manner.
“A high degree of understanding
(between the federal government
and Kelantan government) cannot be
achieved within a short time, but what
is important is the sincerity and mutual
respect shown by the leaders of both
sides,” he said on the last day of his
three-day official visit to Brunei.
Najib was asked to comment on Nik
Aziz’s statement that he was grateful
for the reception from the prime min-
ister during his visit to Pekan.
“I appreciate Nik Aziz’s comments
and his willingness to participate
in that day’s programme,” he said.
– Bernama
Online voters want
ISA abolished
PETALING JAYA: More than 75% of
respondents in an online survey
| FRIDAY AUGUST 7 2009
we can talk about other new things,
so we want speedy development that
would be very tangible,” he said.
Describing his visit as a “big
milestone” in achieving new heights
in terms of bilateral ties, he said, the
four-eyed annual meeting empha-
sised economic integration, includ-
ing investment potentials for Brunei
investors in the Sarawak Corridor
of Renewable Energy (Score), Sabah
Development Corridor and Iskandar
Malaysia in Johor.
He said Malaysia was also open
to opportunities for investment in
Brunei as Malaysian companies
were strong in the construction
industry besides having expertise in
niche areas, including Information
Communication Technology (ICT)
and the services sector.
“At the same time, Brunei and
Malaysia are exploring markets for
joint third country investments,” he
said.
Najib said both countries were
also looking at marketing tourism,
especially from Sarawak and Sabah,
as the prospects were even better
for the flow of people, products and
services.
He said the various routes taken,
whether by land, sea or air, ways to
increase flight frequencies, including
using smaller aircraft, or through
introduction of ferry services and
land communication so that the Pan
Borneo highway concept could be-
come a reality would be examined.
– Bernama
conducted by the Home Ministry
voted the Internal Security Act (ISA)
as a draconian law and more than
85% wanted it abolished.
More than 15% voted ISA as a
preventive law while the rest were
unsure of what kind of law it is.
The poll is aimed at gauging the
public perception of the ISA and
the findings will be used as supple-
mentary data for the government’s
review of the highly controversial
law which allows for detention
without trial.
More than 80% understood what
the ISA is all about while more than
10% were confused. Some 4% said
they do not understand the ISA.
The survey also asked respond-
ents what they required from the
ISA, to which more than 85% said
they wanted it abolished.
The survey is accessible through
www.ikdn.org or www.ikdn.gov.my.