Saturday July 4, 2009
I stood up for human rights, says Abu Talib
By SHAILA KOSHY
KUALA LUMPUR: Challenging the government view that he was biased in the Perak constitutional crisis, Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman said he and Suhakam had stood up for the human rights of the citizens of Perak.
“The statement reflects our independence in the performance of our function to promote and protect human rights in accordance with the spirit of the Paris Principles as understood by the International Co-ordinating Com-mittee (of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights).”
“If in issuing the statement for and on behalf of Suhakam renders me unfit to be its chairman, as an experienced member of the Cabinet, he (de facto law minister Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz) knows what to do.
“I will abide by the decision of the King,” Abu Talib told The Star yesterday when asked to comment on Nazri’s reply at the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday during the debate on the Suhakam (Amendment) Bill.
When MPs had questioned the neutrality of Suhakam commissioner Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah for giving legal advice to Umno with regard to the crisis, Nazri had turned the question around by questioning Abu Talib’s neutrality instead: “Between Abu Talib and Shafee, Abu Talib is not fit to be the Suhakam chairman.”
Abu Talib said statements made by Suhakam required a two-third majority and they had more than that for the now controversial one dated May 12.
In that statement, Abu Talib had said: “Perhaps the time has come for the people of Perak to be given the opportunity to exercise their right to choose again the government of their choice, which is a basic human right.”
Yesterday, he reiterated that the commissioners had felt that a statement was necessary because it was a matter of human rights.
“The issue of it being before the court does not arise here; it is about the people and their right to choose their government.”
News Poll
- Lau and wife attend memorial ceremony
- Luck runs out for ‘counterfeit couple’
- Singapore to take part in Lima for the first time
- EGM for MCA is off, special briefing instead
- Hold the sweet
- Bollywood actress held over death of actor
- 27 cosmetic products recalled
- Woman dies after snatch theft bid
- 12-year-old desperately needs aid for cord blood transplant
- Health Ministry issues nationwide dengue alert
- 12-year-old desperately needs aid for cord blood transplant
- 27 cosmetic products recalled
- Gas-powered plant to ease Sabah energy woes
- Malaysia hailed as one of council’s renowned member
- Lobbying hard for IMO seat
- Health Ministry issues nationwide dengue alert
- Ti calls on MACC to check graft in MCA
- Report: Drugs seizures and use in Malaysia are increasing
- EGM for MCA is off, special briefing instead
- Bookstore chain Borders UK files for a form of bankruptcy
RSS
