PRESS STATEMENT
KUALA LUMPUR (16 DECEMBER 2022) – The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) wishes to express its concern on the statement of the Home Minister that the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) is necessary in managing organised crime-related cases.
Whilst SUHAKAM acknowledges that SOSMA was created pursuant to the special powers under Article 149 of the Federal Constitution, however, SUHAKAM is concerned by Section 4 of SOSMA in which arrest, detention and renewal of the detention period does not require judicial oversight. The absence of judicial oversight allows the Executive and the police a free rein to abuse such power against citizens, human rights defenders and political dissidents.
SUHAKAM is of the view that there is a need for check and balance on the powers of the investigating authorities during detention. Appropriate balance must be struck between the need to protect the nation from security threats and the maintenance of human rights.
SUHAKAM wishes to reiterate our call for the need to have balance in laws aimed to protect sovereignty and those that uphold human rights principles. Human rights and national security are not mutually exclusive, nor are they in conflict with each other. Instead, they are interrelated and complementary.
SUHAKAM maintains a consistent position on security laws relating to detention without trial, that detention without trial goes against the core principles of human rights. Freedom from arbitrary detention, the right to a fair trial and the right to social and international order in which all rights can be fully realised are guaranteed by Federal Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
-END-
Prof. Dato’ Dr. Rahmat Mohamad
Chairman
Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)16 December 2022
———————————
KENYATAAN MEDIA
KUALA LUMPUR (16 DISEMBER 2022) – Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM) menzahirkan kebimbangan terhadap kenyataan Menteri Dalam Negeri mengenai keperluan Akta Kesalahan Keselamatan (Langkah-Langkah Khas) 2012 (SOSMA) dalam membanteras kegiatan jenayah terancang.
SUHAKAM mengakui bahawa SOSMA telah diwujudkan di bawah kuasa khas Perkara 149 Perlembagaan Persekutuan, walau bagaimanapun, SUHAKAM bimbang dengan peruntukan Seksyen 4 (SOSMA) yang mana tangkapan, penahanan dan penambahan tempoh tahanan tidak memerlukan pemantauan kehakiman. Ketiadaan pemantauan kehakiman boleh membuka peluang bagi kebebasan badan eksekutif dan polis untuk menyalahgunakan kuasa tersebut terhadap rakyat, pembela hak asasi manusia dan pembangkang politik.
SUHAKAM berpandangan bahawa terdapat keperluan untuk semak dan imbang kuasa pihak yang manjalankan siasatan semasa dalam tahanan. Keseimbangan perlu dicapai antara keperluan untuk melindungi negara daripada ancaman keselamatan dan mempertahankan hak asasi manusia.
SUHAKAM ingin mengulangi gesaan untuk mewujudkan keseimbangan dalam undang-undang yang bertujuan untuk melindungi kedaulatan dan prinsip-prinsip hak asasi manusia. Hak asasi manusia dan keselamatan negara bukanlah saling eksklusif, dan ia tidak bercanggah antara satu sama lain. Sebaliknya, ia saling berkaitan dan saling melengkapi.
SUHAKAM mengekalkan pendirian yang konsisten mengenai undang-undang keselamatan berkaitan dengan penahanan tanpa bicara, bahawa ia adalah bertentangan dengan prinsip utama hak asasi manusia. Kebebasan daripada penahanan yang sewenang-wenangnya, hak untuk perbicaraan yang adil dan hak kepada ketenteraman sosial dan antarabangsa yang dapat direalisasikan sepenuhnya dijamin oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan Perisytiharan Hak Asasi Manusia Sejagat.
-TAMAT-
Prof. Dato’ Dr. Rahmat Mohamad
Pengerusi
Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
16 Disember 2022