Kua Kia Soong speaks at the launch of Suaram's Malaysia Human Rights Report 2017 in Putrajaya June 19, 2018. ― Picture by Zuraneeza Zulkifli

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 ― The Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition should be able to put an end to the death penalty within its first 100 days of government, along with 20 other reforms urgently needed to uphold human rights in Malaysia, a watchdog said today.

Kua Kia Soong, director of Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), said the top priority of human rights reforms that the government should address is the loss of life, including deaths in custody, police shootings and scrapping the death penalty.

“I think to call for a repeal of the death penalty in fact doesn't take a 100 days, to call for moratorium on death penalty also doesn't have to take a 100 days,” he said at the launch of Suaram's Malaysia Human Rights Report 2017.

“We hope the abolition of the death penalty will be an immediate thing and a moratorium at least while these laws are not changed, to ensure no more deaths, no more prisoners are hanged from now onwards,” he added.

Kua said the new government could either deliver or initiate work on 21 human rights reforms in 100 days.

He listed them according to priority, with the other top two being the introduction of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC); and the repeal of laws that enable torture, detention without trial and arbitrary declaration of emergency such as Prevention of Terrorism Act, Prevention of Crime Act, Security Offences (Special Measures) Act and National Security Council Act.

He said the new prime minister should open up his ruling party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) to be a multiracial party, adding that race-based political parties and race-based policies such as the New Economic Policy should be abolished.

“Because there’s absolutely no justification for it. There’s no reason why policies in this country can’t be needs-based rather than race-based,” he said, adding that merit should be used in recruitment and promotion in the civil service and armed forces.

Other reforms listed by Suaram are zero tolerance for corruption; reviving local council elections that have been suspended since 1965; the repeal or amendment of laws that breach freedom of expression and to introduce a Freedom of Information Act; as well as the institutionalising of judicial freedom.

Suaram also urged PH to resolve the jurisdiction conflict between civil and Shariah laws; to create a truly independent Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) with Parliament debates on its annual reports; to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry for the citizenship woes of those born and living in Malaysia; to make government-linked companies more labour-friendly; and to ensure the income differences between the highest-paid and lowest-paid in GLCs remain below the 1:20 ratio.

Suaram also wants fair distribution of public services; fair redistribution of wealth; equal education opportunities for all; the defending of workers’ rights, the formation of a Housing Development Board; and making public transport a priority.

The rights advocacy group said child-care facilities and care for the elderly and the disabled were required, along with the Orang Asal community’s rights and livelihood to be prioritised; and for sustainable development and environmental protection in place.

Suaram had already met with the government’s new Institutional Reforms Committee recently to provide its recommendations for reforms.