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You’re on human rights council, now scrap draconian laws, govt told

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Repealing such laws will demonstrate the government’s resolve to uphold the rule of law and democratic principles, says the Malaysian Bar.

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Free Malaysia Today
The Malaysian Bar also wants Putrajaya to commit to acceding to more international human rights treaties.

PETALING JAYA:
The Malaysian Bar has urged Putrajaya to repeal and abolish draconian laws such as the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca), now that Malaysia has earned a seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Bar president AG Kalidas congratulated the government for its successful campaign for the seat, but said this must be translated into stronger protection of human rights in the nation and the implementation of reforms.

Aside from Poca, he also urged for the Prevention of Terrorism Act to be abolished as both provisions allowed authorities to detain a person without trial for up to two years at a time.

He also said provisions and sections in the Sedition Act, Printing Presses and Publications Act, and Communications and Multimedia Act allowed authorities to restrict the freedom of speech and expression in the country.

Free Malaysia Today
Malaysian Bar president AG Kalidas.

“Combined, they are a collective affront to the rule of law, basic human rights values, and various constitutional safeguards.

“Abolishing or repealing these laws will demonstrate the government’s resolve to uphold the rule of law and democratic principles, as measured by international norms and standards,” he said in a statement today.

Kalidas also urged the government to commit to acceding to more international human rights treaties, on top of the three that have already been ratified.

These are the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

“The acceptance of more international human rights treaties will allow Malaysia to establish baselines for human rights in this country,” he said.

He said the government must use the next three years of its tenure in the council to improve Malaysia’s human rights record, adding that Putrajaya should also listen closely to the counsel of fellow council members.

Following Malaysia’s election to the council, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government was ready to play an active role as a “facilitator for conciliation, the enabler for cooperation and the builder of consensus”.

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