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April 4, 2000
KUALA LUMPUR, APR 3 (UNB/AP) - Malaysia announced on Monday the members of its first national Human Rights Commission, saying the panel headed by a ruling party politician reflected the nation's commitment to human rights.
Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the 13-member panel of judges, politicians, academics and representatives from non-governmental groups was set up "so the human rights of each citizen will be protected." "They are independent of the government," he added, saying the roster had been approved by the King on Friday and the commission could begin its work immediately. Human rights groups and opposition politicians welcomed the commission as "an important step" but immediately challenged the panel to prove its independence from the government. The commission, headed by former Deputy Prime Minister Musa Hitam, will investigate complaints and advise the government on new laws to protect rights abuses. Musa was chairman of the U.N. Human Rights Commission in 1995. The government announced its plan to create the commission last year, at a time when international attention was focused on Malaysia because of its treatment of political dissidents and its curbs on press freedom. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's tight controls over political activity have been sharply criticized by rights groups since the September 1998 sacking and jailing of his deputy Anwar Ibrahim. The arrest sparked massive protests where hundreds of Anwar's supporters were detained and tried for participating in anti-government protests. Last month, the government banned public rallies in Kuala Lumpur and restricted sales of anti-government newspapers. Malaysia's judiciary, the police force and government departments have come under criticism by rights groups for not investigating allegations of abuse. "The success of the commission will be based on its willingness to deal with these thorny issues and whether the commission can fully exercise its independence," the Malaysian rights group, SUARAM, said in a statement on Monday. Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang welcomed the rights panel, but said it might become a government tool to whitewash its abuses.
"It's a fairly good cross-section but the critical question is whether the commission will have the free mandate to promote and protect human rights," said Lim, chairman of the Democratic Action Party. "It could also end up as an alibi institution to legitimatize human rights violations in the country," Lim said.
Critics have also accused the government of keeping tight control over the commission by not giving it powers to suggest punishment and not guaranteeing seats for independent rights groups.
Although the King approves the panel, the choice of the members is left to the prime minister. Syed Hamid dismissed criticism of the commission, calling it a "very representative body ... that is free and independent in order to promote human rights issues in our country."
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