Suhakam seru pendekatan berteraskan hak asasi terhadap kebebasan bersuara / Suhakam raises concern over protesters’ arrests

[ENGLISH VERSION BELOW] Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Suhakam) menzahirkan kebimbangan berhubung insiden yang berlaku baru-baru ini di sebuah forum awam di Kuala Lumpur, di mana tiga individu dilaporkan telah ditahan oleh pihak polis selepas memaparkan plakad semasa ketua pesuruhjaya Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) menyampaikan ucapan.

Suhakam mengambil maklum mengenai pembebasan ketiga-tiga individu berkenaan namun masih bimbang mengenai keadaan dan justifikasi awal penahanan mereka.

Memandangkan tindakan mereka bersifat aman dan berada dalam ruang lingkup kebebasan bersuara yang dilindungi, penahanan tersebut menimbulkan persoalan penting mengenai bagaimana hak kebebasan bersuara dan berhimpun secara aman ditafsirkan serta dilaksanakan.

Suhakam dengan ini menegaskan semula pendiriannya yang konsisten bahawa hak kebebasan bersuara adalah kebebasan asasi yang dijamin di bawah Perkara 10(1)(a) Perlembagaan Persekutuan serta Perkara 19 Perisytiharan Hak Asasi Manusia Sejagat.

Sebagai tunjang kepada sebuah masyarakat demokratik, hak ini membolehkan individu menyuarakan pandangan, terlibat dalam wacana awam, serta mengambil bahagian secara bermakna dalam perkara yang melibatkan awam.

Walaupun hak ini tidak bersifat mutlak, sebarang sekatan hendaklah mematuhi prinsip hak asasi manusia antarabangsa yang telah ditetapkan, termasuk yang terkandung dalam Perkara 19 Kovenan Antarabangsa mengenai Hak Sivil dan Politik (ICCPR), yang mensyaratkan bahawa sekatan harus sah di sisi undang-undang, bergantung kepada keperluan dan berkadaran.

Dalam hal ini, Suahkam menekankan bahawa kerajaan mempunyai tanggungjawab bukan sahaja untuk mengawal selia, tetapi juga untuk memudah cara serta melindungi pelaksanaan hak-hak ini.

Ini termasuk memastikan individu dapat menyuarakan pandangan mereka secara aman dan tanpa gangguan yang tidak wajar, di samping mengekalkan ketenteraman awam.

Sehubungan itu, sebarang tindakan penguatkuasaan hendaklah dilaksanakan secara berkadaran, tidak sewenang-wenangnya, dan selaras dengan prinsip kedaulatan undang-undang, termasuk pematuhan penuh terhadap jaminan proses yang sewajarnya.

Dalam konteks ini, penggunaan peruntukan jenayah, khususnya yang bersifat luas atau umum, perlu diteliti dengan berhati-hati bagi memastikan ia tidak membawa kesan yang tidak seimbang atau secara tidak langsung mengekang pelaksanaan sah kebebasan bersuara.

Suhakam juga mengambil maklum bahawa isu yang dibangkitkan dalam forum tersebut berkait rapat dengan perkara yang melibatkan kepentingan awam di mana Suhakam telah menggesa agar satu siasatan bebas dan telus dijalankan bagi memelihara integriti institusi serta keyakinan awam.

Pandangan yang berbeza seharusnya dapat disuarakan secara aman dan semua pihak perlu dilayan secara adil, selaras dengan undang-undang.

Sehubungan itu, Suhakam menyeru pihak berkuasa yang berkaitan untuk memastikan agar sebarang tindakan penguatkuasaan susulan daripada insiden ini dilaksanakan secara adil, berhemah dan berkadaran, selaras dengan jaminan Perlembagaan serta piawaian hak asasi manusia antarabangsa.

Suhakam kekal komited untuk mempertahankan kebebasan bersuara dan ketenteraman awam kerana kedua-duanya merupakan tunjang penting yang saling melengkapi dalam sebuah masyarakat demokratik. – Suhakam

English version

Suhakam raises concern over arrests, calls for rights-based approach to freedom of expression

The Malaysian human rights commission, Suhakam, expresses concern regarding a recent incident at a public forum in Kuala Lumpur, where three individuals were reportedly arrested and detained by the police after briefly displaying placards during a speech by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner.

Suhakam notes that the individuals have since been released. However, despite their subsequent release, Suhakam remains concerned about the circumstances and justification for the initial arrests.

Given that the act in question appears to have been peaceful and within the scope of protected expression, the arrests raise important questions about how the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are interpreted and applied in practice.

In this regard, Suhakam reiterates its consistent position that the right to freedom of expression is a fundamental liberty guaranteed under Article 10(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

As a cornerstone of a democratic society, this right enables individuals to express views, engage in public discourse, and participate meaningfully in matters of public interest.

While not absolute, any restrictions must comply with established international human rights principles, including those reflected in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which require that limitations be lawful, necessary and proportionate.

In this regard, Suhakam emphasises that the government has an obligation not only to regulate but also to facilitate and protect the exercise of these rights. This includes ensuring that individuals are able to express their views peacefully and without undue interference, while maintaining public order.

Any enforcement measures should be undertaken in a manner that is proportionate, non-arbitrary and consistent with the rule of law, with full adherence to due process guarantees.

In this context, it is important that the application of criminal sanctions, particularly those with broad or general scope, is carefully considered to ensure that it does not result in a disproportionate impact or inadvertently discourage the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression.

Suhakam also notes that the issues raised in the forum relate to matters of public concern that have previously attracted public attention, including Suhakam’s earlier call for an independent and transparent inquiry to uphold institutional integrity and public confidence.

In such contexts, it is especially important that differing views can be expressed peacefully and that all parties are treated fairly and in accordance with the law.

Suhakam therefore calls on all relevant authorities to ensure that any enforcement measures arising from this incident are undertaken in a fair, measured and proportionate manner, consistent with constitutional guarantees and international human rights standards.

Suhakam remains committed to upholding both freedom of expression and public order, recognising that both are essential and mutually reinforcing pillars of a democratic society. – Suhakam

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