Suhakam to address IPCMC, custodial deaths and death penalty

KUALA LUMPUR: National Human Rights Commission’s (Suhakam) immediate focus now is on three major issues.
They are the setting up of The Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), addressing custodial deaths and abolishing the death penalty.
“We are looking forward to the IPCMC, preventing death in custody and ending death penalty.
“We are also aware of the complaint filed on the death of the Nigerian student and we are now on a fact finding mission,” said Suhakam commissioner Datuk Mah Weng Kwai.
Mah was speaking at a press conference held to introduce three new commissioners. They are Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Othman Hashim and commissioners Datuk Madeleine Berma and Datuk Hishamuddin Yunus.
Othman was formerly the chief secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, while Hishamuddin was a former Court of Appeals judge.
Madeleine is a Sarawakian academic, previously attached with UKM.
The rest of the commissioners are completing their second term in office. They are Mah, Godfrey Gregory, Lok Yim Pheng, Jerald Joseph and Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh.
Thomas Orhions Ewansiha, a doctorate student from Lim Kok Wing University, was found dead recently after being held in the immigration detention for five days.
The authorities claimed that the Nigerian student suffered from seizure while asleep.
However, DAP MP Charles Santiago criticised the Immigration Department for detaining Ewansiha despite the latter having valid documents. He also urged Suhakam to investigate the matter.
Responding to another question, Mah confirmed that Suhakam has not closed its file on the disappearance of Joshua Hilmy and Ruth. The husband and wife couple have been missing for some years now.
“We haven’t closed the files on Hilmy and Ruth. It is up to the commission to decide on its timeline,” he said.
The commission on its part had investigated the enforced disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat.
In a brief speech, Othman said that he would like to engage more stakeholders on human rights issues.
“I accepted the appointment because I want to hear more from stakeholders and push more for human rights. Our new area also includes business human rights,” he said.
By: K Pragalath