After failed Sosma bid, NGO reminds govt of human rights obligations

The Society for Promotion of Human Rights (Proham) is concerned about the inconsistency of human rights practice and its direction in the country, charging that the National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) has been largely ignored.

"In the past year, Proham has issued numerous press releases calling for the government to protect human rights in various issues.

"These include the need for police accountability, respect for and upholding parliamentary democracy, the restriction of excessive powers to authorities and support for the mandate of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).

"Proham is of the view that the concept and interpretation of human rights in Malaysia requires respect for its universality rather than a Malaysian model.

"This is important to avoid entities misusing human rights as a tool for their interest," said Proham in a statement signed by chair Michael Yeoh, deputy chair Denison Jayasooria and Khoo Ying Hooi.

Responding to the recent Parliament rejection of the government's motion to extend the effective period of subsection 4(5) of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) for another five years, Proham said that any form of detention without trial should not be practised in Malaysia.

"We also wish to remind the government of the NHRAP that has been ignored despite the amount of money spent producing such documents.

"On this, we call for the government to review and update the NHRAP according to Malaysia's pledges to the UN Human Rights Council.

"We would also like to reiterate our call to the government to establish a human rights consultative council that includes the agencies, civil society organisations, academics, and private sectors," they said.

Proham reminded the government of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob that as a UN Human Rights Council member, there should be no excuse for the government not to subscribe to the Universal Declaration of Human rights (UDHR) principles that are universal and inalienable, interdependent and indivisible, equal and non-discriminatory. - Mkini