'Opposition using human rights for their benefit'

Opposition politicians are using human rights issues for their political benefit, warned former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In saying this, Mahathir said he agrees with concerns raised that certain quarters were using the 'human rights wave' for political purposes instead of to save people.

"...While we respect human rights, it should be implemented within our capabilities," said Mahathir today

"If we follow the West, which adopts extreme human rights that allows men to get married with (other) men and women getting married with (other) women, (that) should be rejected outright," he added.

Mahathir said as a developing, multiracial and multireligious country Malaysia is not like countries in the West.

"When they are trapped in, they impose much more worse human rights violations compared to us, as what is done in Guantanamo Bay."

"They (United States) don't have laws to detain people without trial, as in Guantanamo (Bay detention camp), and now it is already 11 years. Why don't they release (those detainees)?"

He said while Malaysia has laws to arrest people like the Internal Security Act, the US do not have such laws, but they still arrest and torture detainees for 11 years.

"Their government allows the torture of the detainees. Do not focus on our human rights record, lah. If you want to criticise, criticise (Barack) Obama, lah, for the human rights violations."

He stressed that Malaysia should focus on issues relevant to Malaysia and not adopt all the values in the West.

Yesterday, former inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Noor, when addressing the second Perkasa annual general meeting, warned of people using human rights issues to harm the country.


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