Counter activists with truth instead of harassment, Suhakam tells Putrajaya
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HUMAN rights defenders should not be hauled up by authorities for expressing their views, and should be answered with the truth and facts, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) said.
Suhakam commissioner Jerald Joseph said in a “new” Malaysia, activists or individuals should not have to be called up by police for telling their side of the story or for sharing their views, especially if they are not inciting violence.
He cited the recent case where police are investigating Freedom Film Network co-founder Anna Har and cartoonist Amin Landak over a four-minute animation, Chili Powder & Thinner, based on the true story of a teenager who testified to being tortured while under police custody with two of his friends.
“If the government or authorities find that what is being expressed is inaccurate or fake, then they should counter with the truth,” Jerald said during a virtual press conference.
“They (authorities) can combat it through social media postings much like how these activists and individuals express themselves,” he added.
He said as a mature country, intimidation tactics in Malaysia should be done with towards individuals speaking about injustice.
Jerald said Suhakam is currently compiling a list of individuals who have approached the commission with freedom of expression issues, but did not name them.
He said the list will then be taken up with the Home Ministry as well as the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
From 2020 to June 2021, many journalists, politicians and human rights activists were investigated under the Sedition Act and the Multimedia & Communications Act 1998.
This year, several human rights activists from Suaram were investigated for publishing documentation regarding the use of force by the police while in custody.
To date, Suhakam has investigated two incidents in which journalists and human rights activists were investigated for issuing statements criticising the government’s actions regarding arrest operations against foreigners and locals during the Covid-19 pandemic. – July 14, 2021.