NGOs denied access to Parliament lobby
Human rights watchdogs were stopped from meeting Opposition Leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at Parliament lobby.
They had planned to hand over a memorandum to the PKR president in conjunction with International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
Human rights watchdogs were stopped from meeting Opposition Leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at Parliament lobby.
They had planned to hand over a memorandum to the PKR president in conjunction with International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
"They certainly have denied our rights as citizens to meet and discuss with the MPs on certain issues,” said Abolish ISA Movement president Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, whose group was not earlier informed that they would be barred.
Yesterday, Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia reiterated that Parliament, unlike previously, would not accommodate NGO gatherings in the lobby.
Forced to hold a press conference at the ground floor, Bar Council Human Rights committee member Soosairaj said they were under the impression that each MP can bring two guests into the lobby area.
“I was with M Jeyakumar (PKR-Sungai Siput) but they (security guards) pulled my hand and didn’t let me go (upstairs to the lobby). They were just being difficult,” he added.
Formal notice required
Syed Ibrahim further pointed out that a formal notice should be given before such instructions are put into effect and should be applied fairly to all groups.
“Then it would be fair as not only our group is affected (by the new instruction),” he said.
Security guards said it has been the policy of Parliament administration to allow two guests for each MP but today they were instructed by the security chief not to do so.
Wan Azizah further assured the NGOs that she would seek an explanation from the Parliament administration on the new instruction.
The memorandum they submitted to Wan Azizah was to call for the Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar to stop the torture on ISA detainees.
The NGOs were referring to an ISA detainee, Sanjeev Kumar Krishnan, who was allegedly tortured during his detention at the Kamunting camp in Sept 2007.
Also present during the press conference were Loh Gwo-Burne (PKR-Kelana Jaya), Wee Choo Keong (PKR-Wangsa Maju), M Jeyakumar (PKR-Sungai Siput) and Dr Lo’ Lo’ Ghazali (PAS-Titiwangsa).
