Human rights training for agencies better than whipping, says MP

 

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok says whipping is a barbaric act which demeans human dignity.

PETALING JAYA: An MP has called for the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to conduct human rights awareness training for enforcement officers, following a suggestion by a senior policeman to whip migrants who repeatedly enter the country illegally.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said such training was necessary to ensure that officers from such agencies as the police and immigration department adhere to international human rights norms and standards while performing their duties.

She said such training would also ensure that they refrain from making petty statements, such as imposing barbaric and archaic acts against undocumented migrants.

Kok criticised internal security and public order director Hazani Ghazali, who reportedly said that undocumented migrants entering the country repeatedly should be whipped.

“Senior civil servants and police officers are reminded that whipping is seen as a barbaric act which demeans human dignity,” she said in a statement today.

“Many undocumented migrants who sneak into Malaysia are the poor from our neighbouring countries seeking employment here. Such a callous suggestion will only harm relations with our neighbours.”

She reminded Hazani that there were also poor Malaysians seeking employment abroad who had overstayed in foreign countries.

“How would he feel if whipping is imposed on these Malaysians?” she asked.

Kok also questioned if his suggestion of whipping be extended to include “sly enforcement officers” who had failed in their duties to prevent undocumented migrants from entering Malaysia, and also civil servants who aided and abetted the smuggling of unlawful migrants.

Hazani also reportedly said whipping “would serve as a lesson” for repeat offenders.

Earlier, North-South Initiative (NSI) executive director Adrian Pereira criticised his statement, saying it was both inhumane and pointless. - FMT