Imagine a country where a travel ban is imposed against a member of parliament as a consequence of his outspoken criticism against a financial scandal under investigations all around the globe including US Federal Bureau of Investigations.
A country, whose members of parliament, along with leaders from civil society is also charged despite participating in an assembly proven to be peaceful throughout its intended 48-hour period.
A country, whose Opposition Leader, who led the Opposition Coalition that gained 52 percent popular support in the last election, languishes in jail on trumped up charges – in a trial condemned worldwide by governments as well as international rights organizations. He is now suffering from chronic rotator cuff injury which worsened after facing delays in obtaining treatment from the Malaysian
authorities.
He continues to be denied intensive physiotherapy in hospital.
Behind the façade of open market economy and political stability, Malaysian political system has been under the domination of one party rule for the last four decades, and we are just getting started on the latest spate of legal repression against legislators.
Just yesterday we had brought the Inter Parliamentary Union’s attention on the ongoing investigations and prosecutions against opposition members of parliament.
Today, we have the latest decision adopted by the IPU Governing Council at its 197th session on the 21st October 2015 specifically on Former Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – covering his legal persecution, right to immediate and professional medical care and in securing freedom through a royal pardon.
We also have a decision on the ongoing repressive tactics against 11 Members of the Malaysian Parliament unanimously by the IPU Governing Council at its 197th session as the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians remain consistent in its defense of MP’s right to freedom of expression and assembly. In particular, the IPU is deeply concerned with the use of Section 124B of the Criminal Code, which carries a disproportionately harsh penalty.
In its decision, the IPU Governing Council regretted the recent Federal Court ruling upholding the constitutionality of the Sedition Act and expects the Malaysian delegation represented at the IPU to uphold its promise in bringing the Act in line with relevant international human rights standards.
The PM should be mindful of the IPU decision and realize the downward spiral that Malaysia is heading under his stewardship. It bears noting that the IPU will continue to monitor the ongoing transgressions, which have negatively impacted Malaysia globally. We must right the wrongs and ensure that Malaysia is governed with due respect to good governance, human rights and political/civil liberties.
NURUL IZZAH ANWAR, LEMBAH PANTAI MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
TIAN CHUA, BATU MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
HEE LOY SIAN, PJ UTARA MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
