KUALA LUMPUR, 12 Jan 2009: The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) today urged the Home Ministry to review its procedure in using the Emergency Ordinance on crime suspects.
“Each crime suspect has the right to get justice. He is only guilty when the court finds him guilty after a trial,” said commissioner Datuk N Siva Subramaniam.
“Suhakam hopes the Home Ministry can look back at the procedure of using the Emergency Ordinance. There were cases where action had been taken on innocent individuals under the Emergency Ordinance,” he told reporters here today.
Earlier, he received a memorandum from the families of two brothers — K. Ramayah, 46, and K. Murugayah, 45, — who were detained under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985 and later ordered to serve a banishment order last year.
“Suhakam will investigate whether this case involves an infringement of human rights and we will refer the matter to the police for a follow-up action,” Siva said.
Ramayah’s wife, M Letchumy, said her husband was a good worker who had served Kuala Lumpur City Hall for 27 years while Murugayah worked with Alam Flora over the past 10 years. — Bernama
Eric says
Very good for awareness. It is not only the ISA giving the federal government and the police unfettered powers but the Dangerous Drugs Act and the Emergency Ordinance. All these acts are used without any respect paid to their authors’ intents and should have been repealed. And I am not even mentioning the Printing Presses and Publications Act, Universities and University Colleges Act, the Official Secrets Act, etc.
As shown in his interview in your website, Wan Farid is supporting these (while hiding behind the government’s collective view) – time for Malaysians who want to live in a democracy to make their choice known.
These acts are HERE and NOW. Hudud is not even possible in a remote future. Let’s get our priorities right.