THE Anwar Ibrahim government has yet to show significant progress in reforming the country’s institutions, civil society groups said.

They told The Malaysian Insight the prime minister must deliver the reforms he had promised before he came into power.

The administration has been “slow” and “passive” in its efforts to tackle issues related to reform and human rights, including the repeal of the Security Offences and Special Measures (Sosma) Act, they said.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia executive director Sevan Doraisamy said changes were taking longer than expected.

He urged the government to focus on human rights issues, while acknowledging it has been the most transparent among the governments in recent history.

To Anwar’s credit, Sevan said progress has been made to amend the Federal Constitution to enable Malaysian mothers to confer citizenship on their overseas-born children; set up a children’s commission as an independent statutory body to protect the rights, welfare and wellbeing of children; abolish the death penalty; and pass a freedom of information act .

“In addition, noteworthy efforts being carried out by the Home Ministry to address the issue of deaths in custody, including to amend the 1953 Lockup Rules and develop standard operating guidelines to improve the management of detainees.

“Compared to the previous government administrations, there is increased openness by the current administration to engage with civil society organisations on the various issues of concern,” said Sevan.

His main concern is the recent declaration of Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution that the government does not intend to get rid of Sosma.

“The strengthening of institutional integrity is a key area championed by the administration and the abolishment of laws allowing detention without trial, such as Sosma, is key to true realisation of this pillar,” said Sevan.

He said the government has also yet to report any progress on the Independent Police Conduct Commission Act.

‘Arrogant’ home minister

Khalid Ismath of rights group Eliminating Death and Abuse in Custody Together is similarly unhappy with the Saifuddin whom he said has become arrogant since becoming a minister.

“Crucial matters such as Sosma which was used as an election talking point in the Pakatan Harapan campaign, has yet to be accomplished.

“In fact the home minister is now arrogant and does not want to engage with stakeholders. His officers are not willing to return calls to NGOs for discussions,” he said.

In February Saifuddin said Sosma would remain as it was still necessary for public order and national security.

It must be noted that it was not on the Pakatan Harapan manifesto to repeal Sosma but its leaders had been opposed to the harsh law which allows for detention of up to 28 days.

Mahathir Abdul Rahman, founder of Desak Sampai Mansuh, an organisation working to have the act repealed, said Anwar himself had agreed that Sosma was a draconian law and must be revoked.

“Sosma is a very cruel act and must not exist. It gives excessive power to the police to detain anyone they feel is a threat,” he said,

“When I met with Anwar Ibrahim, he said Sosma must go. This was before he became the PM. Now Saifuddin is the home minister but he doesn’t know anything. He is following what the police are telling him about the law. 

“He should engage with human rights groups and with families of detainees but he is not doing so, Unlike others, Saifuddin knows nothing about Sosma.”

Mahathir’s brother, a police mechanic, spent five years in jail after he was found guilty of supporting the Islamic State group, a charge he continues to deny. – March 20, 2023.