MALAYSIAN DETAINEES TREATED WELL - UN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Bernama) -- Detainees in Malaysia are treated well, observes the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The council's working group on arbitrary detention committee also commended that
there was a decrease in the number of people held under the Internal Security
Act (ISA).

The committee spent over a week in the country, inspecting five detention
centres, including that in Kamunting centre where ISA detainees are held.

It has recommended that Malaysia repeal or amend four preventive laws, including
the ISA, to conform with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The other three are the Emergency Ordinance (Public Order and Prevention of
Crime), the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act and Restricted
Residence Act.

"These laws deny the detainee the right to a fair and public hearing by an
independent and impartial tribunal, consecrated in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and other principles of international customary law.

The fact that the government is inviting us here, indicates its willingness for
improvements.

"We will submit the report to the Human Rights Council in March next year, and
follow up on the situation in two years' time," said El Hadji Malick Sow who led
the five-member group which arrived here on June 7, at the invitation of the
Malaysian Government.

He said, a preliminary report was presented to Deputy Home Minister Lee Chee
Leong Friday.

Sow said the group received full cooperation from the Malaysian Government and
its relevant agencies, adding that detainees were in good condition.

The decreased number of 15 ISA detainees was also commendable, he said.
-- BERNAMA