If you are concerned about the rising crime rate, the Parliamentary Human Rights Caucus is all set to hear you out.

The first of three public hearings will be held from 2.30pm on Sunday at the Tropical Inn in Jalan Gereja, Johor Bahru.

The next session - for the Klang Valley - will be held at 8.30pm on July 11, at the Community Services Complex in Serdang Raja, Jalan SR 3/4 Seri Kembangan, Selangor.

This will be followed by the final hearing at 10am on July 15 at the SK Jit Sin in Jalan Aston, Bukit Mertajam, for the Penang region.
Caucus chairperson Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz urged the public to participate.

"We want them to take this opportunity to voice their suggestions and opinions," he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

Nazri will be accompanied by other caucus members Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur), Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam), Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) and Wong Nai Chee (BN - Kota Melaka).

First-hand accounts from the public will be compiled and submitted to the police.

Meeting on refugees

Nazri further said he had met Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman last Thursday to discuss the permanent resident status of Filipino refugees.

The government confirmed last week that Filipino refugees in Sabah with IMM13 documents would eventually be given permanent resident status. Refugees with IMM13 documents are recognised by the United Nations charter.

The government reported that there are between 10,000 and 15,000 Filipino refugees whose status is in limbo. The refugees do not hold the IMM13 documents but have census cards issued during exercises in the 1970s and 1980s.

"There was some confusion on the issue because we are talking about refugees from 30 years ago. The illegal immigrants who have been coming here from 10 years ago will be sent back," said Nazri.

He said those who have entered the country illegally "will not be entertained" and that refugee status will continue to be given on a case-by-case basis.

"We are sending them back on a daily basis - between 300 to 600 people," he added.

Malaysia has not ratified the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. There is an estimated 1.75 million illegal immigrants in Sabah.

Nazri said the human rights caucus is expected to meet US Ambassador to Malaysia Christopher LaFleur soon to discuss the poor ranking assigned to Malaysia in relation to human trafficking.

Malaysia was placed on Washington's Tier 3 Watch List in a US Trafficking In Persons Report, together with 16 other countries including Sudan and North Korea.

"The ambassador has informed us that the embassy is currently busy preparing for their independence celebrations on July 4, but he has agreed to meet us," Nazri added.