Air-con woes for Suhakam PDF Print E-mail
Written by ERA Administrator   
Monday, 08 February 2010 07:40
KUALA LUMPUR: Suhakam will hold its next few inquiries at the Jalan Duta court complex until a “hot” situation at its office in Menara Tun Razak is rectified.

Suhakam had at 12.10pm yesterday called for an early adjournment of an inquiry when attempts to get the air-conditioner running failed.

Inquiry chairman and Suhakam commissioner Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told reporters that the management of Menara Tun Razak, where the Suhakam office is located, decided not to turn on the air-conditioner because it was a Sunday.

“They refused to do so despite a public inquiry going on.

“We told them we were willing to pay for the extra cost, but the management said it was too costly just to switch on the air-con for Suhakam to hold the inquiry,” said Muhammad Shafee.

He added that Suhakam would hold night inquiries at the Jalan Duta court complex for the time being.

Muhammad Shafee also said he would write to the Government over the matter and ask for a bigger operating allocation for Suhakam.

He said Suhakam should have its own permanent building and a bigger budget, as the current annual budget of about RM9mil was “rather small”.

Earlier, Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid told the inquiry he was advised by several police officers, including his CID chief Deputy Supt Jude Pereira, on the need to justify the use of Section 28 of the Criminal Procedure Code in making arrests.

The section touches on the police’s right not to allow detainees from seeking legal representation.

A group of people were arrested and detained for attending a vigil outside the police station on May 7, after a protest against the detention of blogger Wong Chin Huat.

Among those arrested for defying a police order to disperse during the illegal gathering were five lawyers from the Kuala Lumpur Legal Aid Centre.

The Bar Council had said that the lawyers were not part of the illegal assembly but were there to provide legal representation to the detainees.

The inquiry is to determine, among others, whether the detention and arrest of the five lawyers is considered a denial of legal representation and a violation of human rights.

ACP Wan Abdul Bari added that the protesters and the lawyers were arrested because they refused to disperse despite being given a warning.
Last Updated on Monday, 08 February 2010 07:55