Suhakam given green light to monitor campus polls
Sep 7, 05 11:51am
The majority of the public universities have agreed to allow the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to monitor the campus elections this year, following previous allegations of scare tactics, irregularities and money politics during the annual exercise.Commissioner Prof Hamdan Adnan told malaysiakini that a meeting between the commission and representatives of the student affairs department of the universities had been held two weeks ago at Suhakams headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
Of the 17 universities invited to the meeting, 10 sent representatives - including Universiti Malaya, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Suhakam, he said, requested the universities to conduct the elections in a free and fair manner, when it is held either
later this month or early next month.
Hamdan said the university representatives had said they would try their best.
We also asked whether Suhakam could monitor the campus elections, to which they had no objections. We will work closely with the campus authorities this time, Hamdan said when contacted yesterday.
The previous obstruction we faced was (a result of) the vice-chancellors (getting the) impression that we only listen to students and (that we were out to) make trouble for them, he said.
But we have since explained to them we want to hear from them too and to investigate (the claims) thoroughly.
No request yet Asked whether Suhakam is prepared to conduct the monitoring, Hamdan said: We will look into
it. We will co-operate with the universities. The students have not submitted their official request (for monitoring) to Suhakam.
Last year, Suhakam had sought the approval of the higher education ministry and university authorities to monitor the campus elections after receiving a number of memoranda from students groups. However, the commission was given the runaround.
The ministrys parliamentary secretary Dr Adham Baba was reported as questioning Suhakams capacity to monitor the elections and argued that there is no provision under the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) to allow an external body to monitor the campus polls.
At present, there is no independent body to oversee the campus elections as the polls are conducted by an election commission in each campus, headed by the deputy vice-chancellor of student affairs.
A students coalition, the Malaysian Students Solidarity, issued a statement last week urging Suhakam, human rights bodies Human Rights Society of Malaysia (Hakam) and Suaram to monitor the campus polls.
Support for Suhakam
Hakam and Suaram, when contacted for comments, threw their support behind Suhakam as the official monitor of the campus elections.
Hakam deputy chief Malik Imtiaz Sarwar said the commission is the best body for this since it is a statutory body established to oversee violations of human rights and to recommend steps to rectify problems.
Malik said Hakam is interested in seeing free and impartial campus polls and that it is willing to assist all actors in the scenario, including Suhakam, to monitor the elections.
He also rebutted the ministrys argument that Suhakam is not empowered to monitor the polls, saying in the interests of transparency and accountability, no
objection should be raised to Suhakam monitoring the polls.
Suaram co-ordinator Chang Lih Kang said he would write to local universities to seek permission for monitoring, noting that campus authorities should not turn down the application if they had nothing to hide. There have been many allegations of irregularities, which have resulted in the students losing faith in the authorities. So, why not let an external body monitor the polls? he asked.
Chang, a former student leader, also strongly objected to the implementation of the electronic voting system in certain universities. He said this was against the principles of natural justice because there is no mechanism for check and balance in such a system.
Suhakam firm on keeping Mahathir as speaker
Sep 6, 05 7:12pm
Despite strong criticism, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) will not withdraw its invitation to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad to address its annual conference on Friday. Contacted today, Suhakam commissioner Chiam Heng Keng said Mahathir (photo) has the relevant knowledge to speak on issues of globalisation which is part of the conference theme Human Rights and Globalisation.
Yesterday, a group of 30 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) wrote an open letter to Suhakam urging it to withdraw the invitation to the ex-premier.
The organisations accused Mahathir of having violated numerous human rights during his 22-year tenure as prime minister. Suhakam recognises their freedom of _expression_. Its fine for them to express their concerns but we invited (Mahathir) based on his knowledge on the topic. We usually pick the best choice of speaker to deliver a knowledgeable discourse on the subject at hand, said Chiam.
She added that Suhakam will also not cancel the event, which will mark its sixth anniversary, despite the pullout of three human rights organisations namely Suaram, Aliran and Hakam.
Up to yesterday, 354 participants from various organisations, universities and NGOs have registered. Were not going to cancel this event and dance to the tune of only one group, she stressed.
Delayed reaction
Chiam said this development will not affect Suhakams future relationship with Suaram or any other human rights NGO.
As far as we at Suhakam are concerned, we consider all NGO views and will work with all groups for the promotion of human rights. Our job is to raise public awareness, she said.
However, Chiam also questioned the delayed objection to the invitation.
The programme was sent to them in July, so why did they wait till the very last minute to raise their concerns? If they were really concerned about it, they should have raised this earlier. What is their intention of objecting to the event the very week it is to be held? she asked. The event, which is also in conjunction with Malaysian Human Rights Day, will feature three foreign speakers and Hasmy
Agam, who was Malaysias permanent representative to the United Nations.
Chiam said the speakers will address issues of globalisation that have a bearing on cultural and environmental rights.
Dont deny me my rights, says Mahathir
Sep 7, 05 2:50pm
Are they denying me my human rights?
Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad posed this question today in response to the objection against his addressing the Human Rights Commission of Malaysias (Suhakam) annual conference on Friday.
A group of 30 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), in an open letter to Suhakam on Monday, had called on the commission to strike him off the list of speakers, claiming that he had violated numerous human rights during his 22-year tenure. However, Mahathir told reporters in Kuala Lumpur that their ability to publicly accuse him of such a wrongdoing itself proved
that there is observance of human rights in the country.
He did not show any sign of succumbing to the pressure from the organisations and said he would carry out his obligation.
I have been extended an invitation by Suhakam and accepted it. I will not pull out from it, he said.
Yesterday, Suhakam said it had chosen the former premier to speak at the event because he has relevant knowledge in relation to this years theme, Human Rights and Globalisation, and that it would not withdraw the invitation.
The event is to commemorate the Malaysian Human Rights Day and the commissions sixth anniversary.
Anwars sacking
Three NGOs - Suaram, Aliran and Hakam - have boycotted the event on grounds that Mahathir was responsible for grave human rights abuses.
They led the call for Suhakam to withdraw its invitation to Mahathir, citing such instances of human rights violations as the
injudicious sacking of his former deputy Anwar Ibrahim.
Another example was the ex-premiers arbitrary use of the Internal Security Act to arrest, detain and torture political foes and human rights advocates. Mahathirs alleged unconcern for the indigenous peoples of Sarawak further fuelled the groups adamance that he is not in a position to speak at a human rights conference.
The Bakun Dam project was another of Mahathirs white elephants. The government went ahead with displacing 10,000 indigenous peoples even when the project had been shelved during the financial crisis in 1997, read their letter.
(He) must bear responsibility for the certain ethnocide which was a result of the displacement.
Jangan nafikan hak asasi saya, kata Mahathir
Sep 7, 05 5:40pm
Adalah mereka mahu menafikan hak asasi manusia saya?
Bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad mengemukakan soalan tersebut apabila ditanya mengenai tindakan badan-badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang membantah kehadirannya untuk menyampai ucapan di persidangan tahunan Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia (Suhakam) Jumaat ini.
Dalam suratnya kepada Suhakam Isnin lalu, 30 NGO itu menggesa suruhanjaya itu supaya menggugurkan nama Dr Mahathir dari senarai penceramah di persidangan tersebut, kerana didakwa telah melanggar hak asasi manusia ketika menjadi
perdana menteri dahulu.
Saya telah menerima jemputan daripada Suhakam dan saya menerimanya. Saya tidak akan tarik diri, katanya kepada pemberita di Kuala Lumpur hari ini.
Semalam, Suhakam dilaporkan berkata, suruhanya itu menjemput bekas Perdana Menteri itu kerana pengetahuan mendalamnnya berhubung dengan tema tahun ini Hak Asasi Manusia dan Globalisasi, dan tidak akan menarik balik jemputan tersebut.
Majlis tersebut diadakan untuk menyambut Hari Hak Asasi Manusia dan ulangtahun keenam penubuhan Suhakam.
Pemecatan Anwar
Tiga NGO utama Suaram, Aliran dan Hakam mengambil keputusan untuk memboikot majlis tersebut kerana mendakwa Dr Mahathir telah melakukan banyak pelanggaran hak asasi manusia.
Berikutan itu, mereka menggesa Suhakam supaya menarik balik jemputannya kepada Dr Mahathir, sambil menyebut contoh berlaknya pelanggaran hak asasi manusia apabila bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri,
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dipecat dari Umno dan kerajaan.
Satu lagi contoh ialah tindakan bekas perdana menteri itu menggunakan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) terhadap mereka yang tidak sehaluan dengan politik pemerintah. Dakwaan yang Dr Mahathir juga tidak mengambil berat masalah penduduk pribumi Sarawak, turut dijadikan alasan oleh NGO bahawa Dr Mahathir tidak layak berucap di majlis hak asasi manusia itu.
Projek Ampangan Bakun merupakan satu lagi projek gajah putih Dr Mahathir. Kerajaan meneruskan pemindahan 10,000 penduduk pribumi di situ walaupun projek tersebut telah ditangguhkan sewaktu krisis kewangan pada tahun 1997, kata NGO terbabit dalam surat kepada Suhakam itu..
New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - 1GB of free storage!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
All views expressed herein belong to the individuals concerned and do not in any way reflect the official views of Hidayahnet unless sanctioned or approved otherwise.
If your mailbox clogged with mails from Hidayahnet, you may wish to get a daily digest of emails by logging-on to http://www.yahoogroups.com to change your mail delivery settings or email the moderators at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the title "change to daily digest".
| Islam and the west | Islam koran | Different religions beliefs |
| Islam | Divine inspiration |
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
- Visit your group "hidayahnet" on the web.
- To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
- Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
