Congrats on UN Human Rights Council seat, now end draconian laws, govt told
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Bar wants Malaysia to use its election to the United Nations Human Rights Council as a guide towards greater recognition and protection of human rights in Malaysia, with the political will to carry out such reforms. In congratulating the government on being elected to the 47-member…
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Bar wants Malaysia to use its election to the United Nations Human Rights Council as a guide towards greater recognition and protection of human rights in Malaysia, with the political will to carry out such reforms.
In congratulating the government on being elected to the 47-member UN Human Rights Council for the 2022-2024 term, Bar president AG Kalidas said among the reforms was on the repealing of draconian laws.
“The government must first take concrete steps towards repealing and abolishing draconian laws.
“The Prevention of Crime Act 1959, Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015, provisions in the Sedition Act 1948, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, and Sections 233 and 263 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 all contain excuses for the authorities to undermine and restrict the right to freedom of speech and expression.
“Combined, they are a collective affront to the rule of law, basic human rights values and various constitutional safeguards. Abolishing or repealing these laws will demonstrate the government’s resolve to uphold the rule of law and democratic principles, as measured by international norms and standards,” Kalidas said in a statement.
He also called for the government to commit to acceding to more international human rights treaties. Malaysia has so far only ratified three human rights treaties – the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“The acceptance of international human rights norms will allow Malaysia to establish baselines for human rights in this country,” he said.
Following Malaysia’s election into the UN Human Rights Council, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government was ready to play an active role as a “facilitator for conciliation, the enabler for cooperation and the builder of consensus”.
“Malaysia will work closely with the UN member states to advance the global human rights agenda, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” he added. — Free Malaysia Today