HRW report politically motivated, says deputy home minister

(Malay Mail Online) – The Human Rights Watch’s (HRW) singling out of Malaysia for alleged abuses that also exist in other countries suggest political motive, said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.

The Pulai MP said it was unfair to criticise only Malaysia when the country has been introducing reforms, adding that the rights group appeared intent in demanding that Putrajaya remove all its laws to accommodate demands for greater civil liberties.

Among others, he cited the US’ Guantanamo Bay detention centre for terror suspects held without trial and Singapore’s retention of its Internal Security Act, a security law that Malaysia has repealed.

“I’m just saying don’t politicise the issue. United States ignores them (HRW), should Malaysia ignore them? Malaysia has not ignored them, ISA has been abolished, under POTA and POCA there is a review.

“We have made reforms, what else is not enough? They want us to remove everything. I’m sorry, we can’t because of our multiracial and multireligious nature of our country. Also the world is becoming more globalised; we have to find a mechanism to handle transnational crime, so we need these laws,” he explained.

When asked if Putrajaya would respond to the claims made by HRW, Nur Jazlan said yes but added that, ultimately, Malaysian lawmakers they knew best to run the country.

The HRW yesterday released a145-page report accusing Putrajaya of turning its back on pledged reforms and using criminal laws to crack down on its critics.