The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) urges the government to drop the charges against two human rights activists from Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), who are being prosecuted for alleged trespassing at the Ministry of Home Affairs office in Putrajaya.
Criminalising human rights defenders for their advocacy sets a concerning precedent and undermines fundamental freedoms.
These activists were merely attempting to submit a memorandum regarding the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) alongside detainees’ family members. Their actions were peaceful, lawful and aligned with human rights advocacy.
It is crucial to emphasise that these activists posed no threat to the safety or security of the ministry’s personnel or premises. Rather than facilitating the peaceful submission of the memorandum, the ministry reportedly kept the activists waiting for more than two hours without any formal response.
Given these circumstances, the subsequent charges against them appear to be an unnecessary escalation of what is essentially a procedural matter.
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Suhakam firmly upholds the principles of freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Federal Constitution.
This stance is also in line with the prime minister’s announcement regarding amendments to the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, aimed at better facilitating people in exercising their right to assemble peacefully, alongside the subsequent imposed moratorium.
The government’s actions must reflect its commitment to reform and ensure that the rights of the people are genuinely protected.
The actions of these activists should be viewed within this framework rather than through punitive lens.
This incident represents a mere technical issue concerning standard procedures for accessing government premises.
As such, Suhakam urges the authorities to exercise their discretion and reconsider the charges.
Law enforcement agencies and government bodies possess the full authority to apply reasoned judgment and demonstrate empathy in cases where the intention behind the actions is neither malicious nor harmful.
Considering this, Suhakam calls for the immediate withdrawal of charges against the activists and for a more open, rights-respecting approach in handling future engagements with civil society organisations. – Suhakam
8 March 2025
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