The Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) should urge the government to table its annual report in Parliament, said the Anti-Internal Security Act Movement (GMI).

GMI made the call through a memorandum that was received by newly appointed Suhakam commissioner Khalid Ibrahim (left) yesterday.

At a dialogue between coalition representatives and Khalid, GMI chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said Suhakam should actively campaign for its annual report to be tabled.

"The contents of the annual report contains recommendations that have huge implications including the abolishment of laws such as the ISA," said Syed.

Under Section 21 (2) of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission Act 1999, Suhakam is required to submit a detailed list of all complaints compiled and its recommendations to Parliament.

'Suhakam is independent'

However, since the commission's inception in 2000, the annual report has never been tabled and debated in Parliament. Suhakam's 2006 annual report is expected to be published in March.

Khalid reassured that Suhakam's position against the ISA remains unchanged and would pursue for its abolishment as it had done over the years.

"We have told the government outright that ISA should be abolished. We are an independent body and we are not afraid (of speaking out against the government)," said Khalid.

He said that in response to criticism from former ISA detainee Sabri Sungip who said Suhakam would lose its raison d'entre and credibility over its failure to convince the government to abolish the ISA.

Khalid, formerly the director of the Public Complaints Bureau, said Suhakam regards the ISA as an 'unresolved matter' and is open to future discussions with all parties to resolve the problem.

Protest held

To coincide with the handing of the memorandum yesterday, GMI held a protest march from the national mosque leading up to Suhakam headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

A crowd of about 100 individuals comprising of ISA detainees' relatives and activists later gathered outside the building and began chanting slogans demanding the closure of the Kamunting and Guantanamo Bay detention camps.

Addressing the crowd, Syed Ibrahim said the government was being inconsistent in its condemnation of the USA's treatment of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay.

"The government shouldn't bark at the cruelty of others when we close a blind eye to the attrocities in our own backyard," said Syed.

The protesters dispersed peacefully after the meeting between GMI delegates and Khalid at about 4pm.

Formed in 2001, GMI is a coalition of 83 groups, including political parties, civil society groups, trade unions, student groups, women's groups among others.

GMI is urging for the repeal of the Internal Security Act 1960, a law enacted to combat the communist insurgency, which allows detention without trial and is often said to have been abused by the ruling party to quell political dissent.

Suhakam, in its 2003 review of the law, had recommended that it be repealed and replaced with legislations dealing with security matters and containing safeguards consistent with international human rights norms.

In its 2005 annual report, detention without trial was listed first among eight key issues for the year.