Aliran Election Focus

Human Rights: Why the Secrecy?

The National Human Rights Commission Bill is to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat next week and yet the country at large remains in the dark as to the provisions of the Bill.

There has been no public discussion of the issues nor has there been a conscious effort on the part of the government to seek views from sources outside the government or to encourage input from interested parties.

Isn't the right to know and to be informed part of human rights? Isn't the right to freedom of expression - to discuss, to debate, to disagree - a basic right?

Isn't it absurd that while we are trying to establish a human rights commission ostensibly to ensure and protect the rights of citizens, we are at the same time telling the people that they have no right to know the contents of the Bill?

Concerned Malaysians are anxious to know whether the rights of women have been adequately addressed, whether the rights of the disabled have been sufficiently protected, whether the rights of the marginalised communities have been sincerely looked into. They have a right to know how those who violate and abuse the civil and political liberties of citizens will be punished.

How will the commissioners be selected? Will members of political parties and NGOs be represented? How independent will they be? Will they have full powers to investigate and prosecute human rights violaters? These and a a host of other questions are begging for answers.

But the Barisan Nasional is not bothered about public participation and remains indifferent. The unfortunate trait of the Barisan, with its overwhelming mandate, is to ignore the people's views. It pretends to be the repository of all wisdom and treats voters as though they don't count.

If the Barisan continues to display its arrogance and dismisses public opinion as of no consequence, it forfeits its right to continue to remain in power. It is time for it to move aside and make way for democratic forces who respect human rights and cherish public participation to replace it.

P Ramakrishnan
President
8 July 1999