teoh beng hock

by HIDAYATH HISHAM

THE proposed Human Rights Tribunal may investigate past rights violations, including the case of the late Teoh Beng Hock, once it is formally established.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M Kulasegaran said the matter had already been raised during stakeholder engagement sessions on the tribunal’s formation.

“It is still too early to determine whether the tribunal will be empowered to investigate rights-related cases, as the foundational framework and parameters have not yet been established.

“That is why we are holding stakeholder engagement sessions. However, I agree that issues involving human rights violations should be investigated and followed up on, as is the practice in other countries that conduct such inquiries,” he told the Dewan Rakyat on July 30.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Teresa Kok (PH–Seputeh), who asked whether the tribunal could be empowered to investigate human rights cases, including Teoh’s death.

Kulasegaran also gave assurance that the tribunal’s establishment would remain aligned with the Federal Constitution and take Shariah compliance into account.

He said the Human Rights Tribunal Feasibility Study Committee (JKKTHAM) includes representatives from the Department of Shariah Judiciary Malaysia (JKSM) and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM).

“Shariah perspectives are also being taken into account, and any proposals made will not contradict the Constitution. That’s why we have a respected judge like Datuk Mah Weng Kwai.

“The committee also includes many lawyers who have handled human rights cases, so all such aspects will be considered. If the tribunal had existed earlier, I believe an investigation would have already been conducted,” he said, responding to Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN–Tumpat).

The post Kulasegaran: Human rights tribunal may probe Teoh Beng Hock case appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.