Human rights chief urged to quit

Thu, 01 Nov 2001 | Source: AFP

MALAYSIA: Human rights body chief in Kuala Lumpur was denounced on Wednesday for a "preposterous" suggestion that human rights should take a back seat in the war on terrorism.

Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) chairman Musa Hitam should resign, said P. Ramakrishnan, president of the independent Aliran rights group.

Lim Kit Siang, chairman of the opposition Democratic Action Party, described Musa's remarks as "shocking" and urged Suhakam commissioners to overrule him.

Musa was quoted by the official Bernama news agency on Tuesday as saying that democracy and human rights should be put aside for the time being to assist the government in carrying out anti- terrorist activities. --AFP

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