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Showing posts with label SUHAKAM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SUHAKAM. Show all posts

“Forced To Become Coolies In Their Own Lands” MAJOR EXCLUSIVE



Representation of East Malaysia’s Chief Ministers submitted to Sarawak Report by a reader

Sarawak Report has received a leaked copy of a devastating official report on the treatment of the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, which BN has been trying to keep secret until after the election.

In the report Malaysia’s human rights commission Suhakam has lambasted Taib’s State Government on count after count over its conduct over native land rights.

It concludes that the indigenous people of the region have been “forced to become Coolies in their own lands” by the actions of the Land Custody and Development Authority, which Taib personally chairs.

The human rights run 2012 still a success despite all odds

The inaugural Human Rights Run 2012 jointly organized by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) together with the Kinabalu Running Club, PACOS Trust, The Yellow Dots and Pusat Kebajikan Good Sheperd was successfully held despite having to move the event to a new venue. The Human Rights Run and Concert were held on Saturday, 8 December 2012, at the Likas Lake Jogging Track of the Likas Sports Complex, Kota Kinabalu.

The initial venue for the Human Rights Run 2012 was the UMS Stadium. However, on the eve of the event, UMS unilaterally retracted the permission to use the stadium. On Friday evening, UMS had put up a banner stating ‘Larian Hak Asasi SUHAKAM dibatalkan’ but after informing UMS that it is the prerogative of the organisers to decide on the event, it was taken off on Saturday morning and replaced with a sign informing that the venue has been changed.

Initially, the organisers were told that the UMS decision was based on instruction that the event was politically motivated, but officials later justified their action to be a matter of UMS policy on the use of the stadium and to safeguard its students. Appeals to UMS officials were made until 8:30am on Saturday morning but their decision remained the same, except for its readiness to compensate and transport necessary equipment.

When contacted, the police explained that no order was issued by them to stop the event. If indeed there was a last minute instruction to UMS in prohibiting the event, then it is most regrettable and strongly denounced. SUHAKAM as one of the main organisers of the event is a statutory body created under an Act of Parliament to promote and protect human rights as provided in the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, and should have been accorded the opportunity to explain before UMS reached its decision.

Due to the last minute change of venue, the organizers decided to cancel the Exhibition which was supposed to be held together with the Human Rights Run and Concert 2012, except those prepared by the organisers themselves. However, due to the heavy rain, the human rights exhibition prepared by the organisers had to be taken down. The participants who signed up for the exhibition included government departments and NGOs. PACOS Trust was still able to continue with the food bazaar and organised four tents for the events. Local bands from all over Sabah and gong beaters performing for the Human Rights Concert who have already arrived in Kota Kinabalu were able to perform but the organisers were unable to put them in an ideal location.

In the short time available, the Kinabalu Running Club was able to replicate the original plan for the Relay Run at the Likas Lake Jogging Track covering about 1.8km per loop. The bad weather did not dampen the spirits of the runners who enthusiastically joined the race. The organizers were amazed by the enthusiasm and passion of the people despite the heavy downpour, which truly reflect the sportsmanship of the runners to carry on with the Human Rights Relay Run.

The organizers would like to express their utmost appreciation to all volunteers, sponsors and the cooperation of relevant authorities for making this event a successful one, and offer its sincere apologies to members of the public and those who have agreed to participate in the exhibition for all the inconvenience caused. To this end, UMS owes SUHAKAM and the other organisers as well as the public a proper explanation for the cancellation.

SUHAKAM and the other organisers also urge the Government of Malaysia to be mindful of its commitment to human rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the recent ASEAN Human Rights Declaration.

UMS Directed To Cancel Human Rights Celebration

In conjunction with the International Human Rights Day, the Malaysian Commission of Human Rights (SUHAKAM), Kinabalu Running Club, PACOS Trust, Pusat Kebajikan Good Shepherd and The Yellow Dots are organising a Human Rights Relay Run, Exhibition and Concert on Saturday, 8 December 2012 at University Malaysia Sabah.

The purpose of this Human Rights Relay Run, Exhibition and Concert is to celebrate and raise the awareness of human rights in Malaysia. More than 1,500 members of the public have already signed up for the Relay Run. Various government departments, non-governmental organizations and companies have agreed to take part in the Human Rights Exhibition. The exhibition would focus on the various efforts in promoting and protecting human rights. The concert will provide a healthy and constructive avenue for the youths to learn and to spread the awareness of human rights.

The organisers have put in months of hard work and preparation. The booking fees for the UMS stadium have been paid in full and approvals from the relevant authorities including UMS has been obtained. In fact, the police have been supportive and would provide monitoring personnel.

Today, on the eve of the event, the organisers received a shocking telephone call from the officials of UMS. UMS had unilaterally retracted the permission to use their stadium and threatened to tighten security to prevent any human rights supporter and participant from entering its premises. UMS had later put up a banner stating ‘Larian Hak Asasi SUHAKAM dibatalkan’. UMS ‘justified’ by citing the event is politically motivated and that they have received a directive from the Chief Minister’s Department.

All efforts to contact the authorities, the Vice-Chancellor of UMS and other UMS officials to convince them that the event is purely for the promotion of the International Human Rights Day and to foster good relations between participants from government, NGOs and private sectors were futile. We have faced brickwalls from all sides of the UMS and government authorities.

This last minute instruction to UMS to prohibit the event is most regrettable and is strongly denounced.

SUHAKAM reminds the government and UMS that SUHAKAM is a statutory body created under an Act of Parliament to monitor and protect human rights as provided in the Federal Constitution of Malaysia. It is ironic and appalling that SUHAKAM and more importantly, Malaysian citizens are prohibited from enjoying one of the main tenets of human rights guaranteed under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution: Freedom of Assembly.

Faced with such unfortunate circumstances, the organisers have arranged for the Human Rights Relay Run, Exhibition and Concert to be held at an alternative venue at Likas Lake, Kota Kinabalu starting from 2pm.

SUHAKAM urges the Government of Malaysia to be mindful of its commitment to human rights under Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the recent ASEAN Human Rights Declaration.  

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