FAC News - Tuesday, June 18, 2002 10:52 PM

Suhakam does not fully understand human rights

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) does not seem to fully understand the meaning of human rights. This was revealed in the line of questioning the first day of the public inquiry called to look into the treatment the Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees are receiving and the conditions of their treatment.

Suhakam seemed more concerned about whether the detainees are being fed enough, the size of the chicken, and whether detainees are being physically abused. But human rights extend beyond just the detainees’ food and whether it is a big chicken or a small chicken.

Almost all the detainees called to testify the first day of the inquiry were Muslims. They complained that they are not being allowed to perform their Friday congregational prayers – compulsory to all Muslims of age and who are fit to perform them.

Suhakam’s comment is that even four detainees can perform their Friday prayers. But the rule is, you need a minimum of forty in the congregation and they must all be local residents. Then, the Friday prayers must include a sermon.

Suhakam does not seem to feel that denying Muslims their right to perform their Friday prayers is a big deal. But it is, and denying Muslims this right is certainly against Islamic teachings and a transgression of their fundamental right.

Even in the United States, prisoners are allowed to perform their Friday congregational prayers. And the US is not a “fundamentalist Islamic nation”. Malaysia is, as proclaimed by Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad recently. How can Malaysia be a fundamentalist Islamic nation when it denies Muslims the right to perform their Friday prayers?

Conjugal visits are another matter not addressed. Not only are conjugal visits unheard of in Malaysian prisons, but detainees are only allowed 45 minutes a week with their spouses and, even then, behind metal screens with no physical contact allowed.

And the government is puzzled as to why sex crimes are on the increase and the high incidence of incest, rape, AIDS, and so on, in Malaysia.