PUTRAJAYA, 21 May 2009: It is not appropriate for the Bar Council to tell the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) what to do or not to do, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.
He said Suhakam, as an independent body, had its own jurisdiction and considerations, and “they do not need people to tell them what to do.”
“It is up to Suhakam to take the necessary steps if it feels there are some valid reasons for it to look into whatever case involving the issue of human rights,” he told reporters after meeting Puteri Umno leaders at his office here.
The deputy prime minister was asked to comment on the Bar Council’s action yesterday in submitting a memorandum to Suhakam on the arrest of five lawyers at the Brickfields police station on 7 May.
Muhyiddin said the Bar Council’s action did not reflect its fair and just position on an issue.
“They have taken a position even before they forwarded their views to the commission,” he said. — Bernama
BC says
The Bar Council is becoming government-like, except that they are elected by the Bar members themselves. What a shame..
mike says
Muhyiddin is proving to be actually a big disappointment [in terms of the things he has said and done since being appointed] … Can we have another DPM?
Steve McCoy says
The functioning of Suhakam is set out in Section 4 of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, Act 597. This includes ‘to inquire into complaints regarding infringements of human rights’.
As Suhakam’s website goes on to explain, the function of inquiring into complaints about human rights infringements is subject to the conditions imposed by section 12 of the Act. Section 12 empowers Suhakam to act on its own motion to inquire into ALLEGATIONS of infringement of human rights, IN ADDITION TO acting on COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED TO IT (emphasis, mine).
It would be useful for the DPM of the country to first, be aware of this. And secondly, to understand that if we as a nation are going to effectively tackle human rights abuses in this country, Suhakam needs the eyes and ears of everyone.
Hafidz Baharom says
I’m sorry to ask this but is a memorandum a way to tell someone to do something, or to suggest an action based on history and facts?
While the Bar Council is submitting the memorandum to Suhakam, what are the police doing to justify their actions on that night?
Hamdan says
Muhyiddin, you are a big disappointment to the rakyat; instead of looking into the matter to see if the police indeed overstepped their authority you condone their practice instead. Then again Umno is always in denial and that will be its downfall.
chinhuatw says
@BC,
Sad, isn’t it when the non-popularly-elected Bar seems more competent to act like government while the popularly elected government fails to observe the law that they are mandated to uphold?
kuntakintae says
The DPM has thus far been dissapointing with respect to the statements he has made; this again makes no sense. That’s Malaysian politicians…say what creeps into your head without researching the facts…mental constipation and verbal diarrhoea.
JAMES AU says
The DPM is not very fair. What the Bar Council did was perfectly legal and in the nameof justice and human rights. Why doesn’t he ask the police to stop harassing the rakyat? The PDRM should be very ashamed of themselves judging from the recent spate of incidents.
din haron says
Orang lain semua dan sentiasa tak betul. Mereka semua betul. Ambil rasuah, bohong rakyat, khianat rakyat dan bermacam lagi, itu semua betul.