Monday, 1 June 2009

Human Rights in Malaysia: Different Day, Same Shit






So June 2009 is already here, and we are not that far away from the end of the first decade of the 21st Century, yet in many ways Malaysia is still, it seems, in the middle ages!

Malaysia still has many archaic, draconian and loosely worded 'catch-all' laws which result in people receiving, inhuman, cruel, degrading punishments.

Prisons, Detention Camps and the illegal immigrant Detention Centres run by the immigration department are all places where the living conditions, the food, the health care and the general facilities are to say the least appalling and inhuman.

The recent outbreak of leptosporosis at the illegal immigrant Detention Centre near Juru recently is a case in point, which highlights how unhealthy and insanitary such places are.

Prisons should provide reasonable living conditions, nutritious food, clean water and be fit for purpose. Surely it is punishment enough to be locked up away from family and friends, without the addition suffering cause by inhuman and unhealthy living conditions.

The UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners

Adopted by the First United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, held at Geneva in 1955, and approved by the Economic and Social Council by its resolution 663 C (XXIV) of 31 July 1957 and 2076 (LXII) of 13 May 1977

This old set of Rules, lays down minimum standards, one can but wonder even if these basic minimum standards are met in Malaysia even now in the 21st Century.

Click HERE for more information.

Dum inter homines sumus, colamus humanitatem


As long as we are among humans, let us be humane


Ut sementem feceris, ita metes


As you sow, so shall you reap






THE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2009 ON MALAYSIA was recently published, and in it you can read what this report says, you will find if you click HERE
Headlines cover such things as:

Freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of he press are denied in Malaysia

Detention without trial, is a common practice, which is condoned by evil laws

Excessive use of force by the multitude of enforcement authorities in Malaysia is not uncommon

Migrants have few if any rights, refugees and asylum-seekers are not afforded adequate protection

True freedom of religion is not practised

Discrimination is common, and in fact it is the norm in many instances

The Death Penalty is still in force in Malaysia and cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments are still standard practice.


Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum


So potent was religion in persuading to evil deeds

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