By Danial Dzulkifly
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 — The amendments to enhance the Human Rights Commission’s (Suhakam) powers are expected to serve as a crucial mechanism in preventing serious human rights violations, including the infamous “black eye” incident involving Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over two decades ago.
Jelutong MP RSN Rayer said the changes proposed to the Suhakam Act will also ensure cases of death in custody can be avoided.
Debating the Suhakam (Amendment) Bill 2023, the Pakatan Harapan lawmaker said the amendment to grant Suhakam power to visit detention centres to probe allegations of violations is a significant step in strengthening the commission’s role in safeguarding and promoting human rights in Malaysia.
“This will guarantee that incidents like the one involving Anwar, famously known as the ‘black eye’ incident from 20 years ago, do not happen again.
“Similarly, this applies to cases of death in custody. In 2021, there were 46 deaths, followed by 24 in 2022.
“As such, we must value the power granted to Suhakam, and I hope this (power to conduct visits) extends to all police and MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) premises, as well as Immigration depots,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
The “black eye” incident refers to Anwar’s assault by then inspector-general of police Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor following his arrest in September 1998, leaving him with a swollen eye, which later became the symbol of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Rahim was found guilty of the assault in 2000 and was sentenced to two months in jail. He later apologised to Anwar and his family in 2005.
In his debate today, Rayer also highlighted the prevalence of deaths in custody in recent years, particularly involving police and MACC detainees.
He cited several notable cases, including Kugan Ananthan and Teoh Beng Hock in 2009 and Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed in 2011.
Similarly, Rayer noted that some members of his party, DAP, had previously been victims of human rights violations, including in the case involving the arrest of two of its elected representatives in 2019 for alleged links to the now-defunct terror group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
“I must express my gratitude to the government, particularly as a DAP lawyer, because in 2019, two of our representatives, G. Saminathan and P. Gunasekaran, were arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 or Sosma. However, we were not allowed to visit them in detention.
“With this amendment, we hope to prevent a similar situation like the one that happened under the oversight of Pagoh (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) from recurring,” he said, referring to Muhyiddin’s tenure as home minister at the time.
The Suhakam (Amendment) Bill 2023 looks to make 16 amendments to enhance the powers and effectiveness of the commission.
Among the key amendments are granting Suhakam power to visit any local authority detention centres and ensuring diversity in its representation.
The bill also aims to bolster the role of the Children Commissioner by institutionalising and expanding the Office of the Children Commissioner (OCC).
It is expected to be passed in the Dewan Rakyat later today.
