Suhakam wants Malaysian police to apply law consistently

KUALA LUMPUR: Police should be consistent and neutral in applying the law, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) Commissioner Datuk N. Siva Subramaniam said.

"The law does not differ from state to state," he said after receiving a memorandum from Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Oppressed People’s Network) or Jerit today.

Speaking at a press conference at the Suhakam office, Siva Subramaniam said the memorandum would be submitted to the commission next month.

He said Suhakam had sent a letter dated Dec 17 to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan after it received a memorandum from Jerit on Dec 10, and was awaiting a reply. The commission would also hear the police’s view of the matter, he said.

In today’s memorandum, which was presented to the commission by Jerit co-ordinator M. Sarasvathy, Jerit described "misuse of power" by police through-out its cycling campaign "Cycling for change", which began from Alor Star, Kedah on Dec 3 and Skudai, Johor on Dec 6, ending at the Parliament building on Dec 18.

Jerit is demanding the abolition of the Internal Security Act, legislation to provide a minimum wage for workers, comfortable homes for the poor, an end to the privatisation of water, electricity, hospitals and public facilities, price controls on basic goods and the restoration of local government elections.

It has urged Suhakam to hold a public inquiry into police handling of the campaign with regard to the following aspects – human rights, children’s rights, the right to provide information and the right to free movement.

In its memorandum, Jerit claims that the police used varying interpretations of the law in different states. It listed in chronological order, events involving the police throughout the campaign.

Also present at the press conference were Jerit spokesman S. Arutchelvan and coordinator R. Moharani.

The Sun
31/12/08