`


THERE IS NO GOD EXCEPT ALLAH
read:
MALAYSIA Tanah Tumpah Darahku

LOVE MALAYSIA!!!


 


Friday, August 21, 2015

Art Harun shocked at PM’s Islam-only human rights stance

Lawyer cum activist wonders if PM’s next move is to amend the Federal Constitution so human rights can be limited only to those within the confines of Islam.
VIDEO INSIDE
art-harun
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Najib Razak’s recent statement that Malaysia was only willing to defend human rights “in the context of Islam” has shocked and worried lawyer and activist Art Harun who now has asked if the Federal Constitution is to be amended next to allow this to take place legally.
In his latest ‘Art of the Matter’ video uploaded on YouTube, the lawyer said, “I find that (PM’s statement) shocking. Simply because the Federal Constitution defines human rights from Article 5 onwards in its absolute terms,” he said, explaining that Article 8(2) clearly states that there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the grounds only of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender in any law or in the appointment to any office or employment.
He said that nowhere was it mentioned that these rights, freedoms and liberties were only available within the context of Islam and added, “I wonder if what the prime minister meant is that there is any intention to amend the Federal Constitution so as to limit human rights only to those within the limits of Islam.”
Remarking at how ironic it was that Malaysia occupied a seat in the United Nations Human Rights Council from 2006-2009, Art added, “When a country occupies such a seat, that country must protect human rights at an international level.”
He questioned why Malaysia had even occupied the seat in the first place since it was only concerned about limiting the defence of human rights in the context of Islam.
He said this ran contrary to how the UN viewed the situation and asked, “Isn’t that hypocritical of us? Or we simply do not understand what human rights means?”
He pointed out that when Malaysia was trying to win a seat at the same council for the period of 2010-2013, Human Rights Watch had written a letter, admonishing the PM, and telling him to show a “stronger commitment to human rights” if the country is expected to be taken seriously. It also called for reforms in the country’s laws, policies and practices that better respected the human rights of “all the people in Malaysia”.
It warned the PM that it did not want to see a repeat of 2006, “when Malaysia made a series of promises while seeking a seat, then broke them all”.
“So there is our human rights record!” Art said, with hands in the air and wearing a grim expression.
“Is that embarrassing? And is there any wonder that there is a trust deficit, a credibility problem, a crisis of confidence in the Malaysian economy right now as we speak when we have shown our propensity and inclination towards breaking promises…. international promises?”
Saying he viewed Najib’s speech with “deep concern” and was “really worried”, Art added, “I hope this kind of statement would not be made again for the sake of Malaysians, for the sake of Malaysians internally and for the sake of Malaysia in the eyes of the international community.”


No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.