PRESS STATEMENT
KUALA LUMPUR (8 AUGUST 2021) – The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) is concerned over the incidents of intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders who were present at the recent ‘Keluar dan #Lawan’ assembly including youth activists, lawyers, media professionals, as well as SUHAKAM’s Commissioners.
SUHAKAM reiterates its position as a body corporate established by its enabling Act, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, as well as an ‘A’ status National Human Rights Institution. In order to discharge its functions, SUHAKAM is mandated under its enabling Act, to exercise any or all of its powers including to undertake any appropriate activities as are necessary which includes to monitor the human rights situation in the country. In this context, SUHAKAM was present at the recent ‘Keluar dan #Lawan’ assembly on 31 July 2021, in line with its function to monitor public assemblies.
SUHAKAM expresses its disappointment that its Commissioners have been summoned for questioning by the police for merely discharging its duties as mandated under its enabling Act. Since the inception of SUHAKAM, its Commissioners or officers have never been summoned for questioning for monitoring any event. SUHAKAM believes the actions by the police to investigate SUHAKAM’s Commissioners and other human rights defenders, including the representatives of the Malaysian Bar Council, for monitoring a peaceful assembly are a regressive move and against the very spirit of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, that has been adopted by UN Member States, including Malaysia.
The principles of freedom of expression is the right of all Malaysians, in compliance with a number of international human rights standards on freedom of assembly, and is constitutionally protected in Article 10 of the Federal Constitution as well as Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The authorities are obligated to respect and allow, even facilitate, peaceful assemblies to take place safely and smoothly.
SUHAKAM is encouraged by the continued commitment of all human rights defenders in the country, for their resilience and determination towards safeguarding human rights principles at all times, notwithstanding the challenges faced. SUHAKAM reiterates that anyone who expresses his or her views on human rights should not suffer from fear of intimidation and reprisal. As we progress, the voices of people all over the world calling out for their rights to live as equal, with dignity and respect, must be heeded.
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Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
8 August 2021
Media queries: Contact Mrs. Norashikin Hamzah at 03-2612 5687 / 019-621 5336 or shikin@suhakam.org.my
KENYATAAN MEDIA
KUALA LUMPUR (8 OGOS 2021) – Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM) bimbang dengan insiden intimidasi dan tindakan terhadap pembela hak asasi manusia yang berada di perhimpunan ‘Keluar dan #Lawan baru-baru ini termasuk aktivis belia, peguam, media dan juga Pesuruhjaya SUHAKAM.
SUHAKAM mengulangi kedudukannya sebagai sebuah badan korporat yang ditubuhkan di bawah Akta yang memberikannya kuasa iaitu Akta Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia 1999, dan sebagai Institusi Hak Asasi Manusia Kebangsaan berstatus ‘A”. Bagi menjalankan fungsinya, SUHAKAM diberikan mandat di bawah akta penubuhannya untuk menjalankan kuasanya termasuk melaksanakan aktiviti yang diperlukan termasuk memantau situasi hak asasi manusia dalam negara. Dalam konteks ini, SUHAKAM telah berada di perhimpunan ‘Keluar dan #Lawan’ pada 31 Julai 2021 baru-baru ini, selari dengan fungsinya untuk memantau perhimpunan awam.
SUHAKAM menzahirkan rasa kecewa kerana Pesuruhjayanya telah dipanggil untuk disoal siasat oleh polis semata-mata atas sebab menjalankan tugas yang dimandatkan di bawah Akta penubuhannya. Sejak penubuhannya, Pesuruhjaya atau Pegawai SUHAKAM tidak pernah dipanggil untuk disoal siasat kerana memantau apa-apa perhimpunan. SUHAKAM percaya bahawa tindakan polis menyiasat Pesuruhjaya SUHAKAM dan pembela hak asasi manusia lain termasuk wakil Majlis Peguam Malaysia kerana memantau perhimpunan aman adalah tindakan yang terkebelakang dan bercanggah dengan semangat Akta Perhimpunan Aman 2012 dan Perisytiharan Pembela Hak Asasi Manusia PBB, yang telah diterima pakai secara bersama oleh negara anggota PBB termasuk Malaysia.
Prinsip kebebasan bersuara adalah hak semua rakyat Malaysia selaras dengan beberapa piawaian hak asasi manusia antarabangsa berkaitan kebebasan berhimpun, dan dilindungi di bawah Perkara 10 Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan juga Perkara 19 Perisytiharan Hak Asasi Manusia Sejagat. Pihak berkuasa mempunyai kewajipan untuk menghormati dan membenarkan serta memudahkan perhimpunan aman berjalan dengan selamat dan lancar.
SUHAKAM berbesar hati dengan komitmen berterusan oleh semua pembela hak asasi manusia di negara ini atas semangat dan kesungguhan mereka ke arah mendukung prinsip hak asasi manusia pada setiap masa, tanpa mengira cabaran yang dihadapi. SUHAKAM menekankan bahawa sesiapa yang menyuarakan pandangan mereka mengenai hak asasi manusia tidak sepatutnya berasa takut terhadap intimidasi dan tindakan balas. Untuk maju ke hadapan, suara yang menyeru agar hak untuk dihormati, hidup secara saksama dan bermaruah perlu diberikan perhatian sewajarnya.
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Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
8 Ogos 2021
Pertanyaan Media: Sila hubungi Pn. Norashikin Hamzah melalui 03-2612 5687 / 019-621 5336 atau shikin@suhakam.org.my
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