NATIONAL Human Rights Society (Hakam) president Ambiga Sreenevasan has promised to take to the streets if real reforms do not take place by June, a forum heard today.

Ambiga, who is a prominent lawyer, said civil societies have given the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government enough space to act on its promises.

“In the first year, we wanted to give them a chance and many of us held back for a long time.

“However, I have told some people in power that if there are no reforms on IPCMC, Sosma, etc, we will take it to the streets in June,” she said during the Institutional Reform Committee (IRC) Report: Why the Secrecy? forum held at the Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall.

She is referring to the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) and Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

Speaking to the press later, Ambiga said time is running out and she fears Pakatan Harapan cannot deliver some of its key promises.

“If these things don’t happen, I am seriously considering taking to the streets again.

“We will do it reluctantly but we have no choice, because for me, they (PH government) really need to get its act together this year.

“I am not saying the government hasn’t done a good thing. It has done many good things.

“But my fear is time is running out for it to deliver some of the key promises.

“Come next year, everyone is concentrating on the next election.”

On the Institutional Reforms Committee (IRC) report, Ambiga said the government should have at least disclose its summary to the public.

She reminded Putrajaya that if it wanted the people to put trust in the government, it must first start trusting the people.

“At least, release a summary of the recommendations because what we need is public feedback.

“If you hide information, you will lose the trust of the people.”

Ambiga, who is former Bersih 2.0 chairperson, said a pilot test can be conducted if the government fears public backlash if the entire report is released.

“Do a pilot test and release the recommendations, see of the government collapses. What are you afraid of?

“There are more advantages than disadvantages. You can even do it online – to get the feedback from the public.”

The forum was moderated by Prof Gurdial Singh of Universiti Malaya, and attended by Ambiga, lawyer Siti Kasim and Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy.

In May 2018, the IRC was set up to give recommendations to the government concerning key national institutions, and had submitted its final report to the Council of Eminent Persons and Prime Minister’s Department in July 2018.

The committee comprised former Appeals Court judge K.C. Vohrah, former Appeals Court judge and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) commissioner Mah Weng Kwai, National Patriots Association (Patriot) president Brig Jen (rtd) Mohd Arshad Raji, Ambiga, and legal expert and professor of law Shad Saleem Faruqi.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong told the press in 2018 that the report would be made public after the report was discussed in detail by the cabinet.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said he was willing to make the report public but a consensus must first be reached between the parties in the PH coalition. – January 18, 2020.