FAC News - Thursday, June 20, 2002 9:53 AM

SUHAKAM INQUIRY ON THE ISA: Press distorts what the detainees said

In the final day of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia’s (Suhakam) public inquiry, the Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees protested the distorted reports of the media, in particular TV3, and said they refuse to participate in the inquiry if the press was present.

Suhakam then explained that the public inquiry was demanded by the detainees themselves so the inquiry was called to meet this demand. Since it was a public inquiry, then it was open to anyone who wished to attend, including the press.

The detainees, however, would not accept this explanation and insisted that the presence of the press, plus the Special Branch officers and prison authorities, meant that the detainees were not free to talk and would, therefore, not tell the whole story.

They said they felt intimidated and were worried that what they say would be twisted and distorted by the media.

Take the first day’s inquiry, said the detainees. What was said during the inquiry and what was reported by TV3 was different. Suhakam then reminded the press that it should accurately report what was said and correct any misreporting that may have occurred the first day.

But the detainees were still not convinced and said that since they had to swear an oath that they would tell the truth before testifying, then the press too should similarly swear an oath that it would report truthfully the proceedings of the inquiry.