SHAH ALAM, 18 Oct: The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, should prove that Malaysia is qualified as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) by starting with the move to repeal the Sedition Act 1948.
The KEADILAN International Bureau Chairman, Good Hsiao Leung, said that he welcomes Malaysia’s appointment to the seat.
He said that one of the future challenges is to prove to the international community that Malaysia is qualified for the seat.
“The first thing which needs to be done is to clean the record by respecting promises made in 2012 to repeal the Sedition Act,” he said in a media statement.
He said that international observers have lately been questioning Malaysia’s capability in handing the issue of terrorism and human rights.
“Negative perceptions towards Malaysia are in a large part caused by the country’s terrible record of human rights,” he said.
He was referring to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) report recently which criticised Malaysia for using the Sedition Act to “criminalise dissent” and threaten free expression.
“The world is watching us. How are we able to convince them that we can take on critical issues, be counted on to stand up with the rest of the international community against injustices and human rights abuses?” he asked.
Malaysia garnered 187 votes out of 193 member states that participated in the secret ballot process in New York, the United States, on Thursday.
The first time Malaysia held the seat was in the 1989-1990 session and then during the 1999-2000 term.
NS