ID :
167412
Fri, 03/11/2011 - 10:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/167412
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M'SIA SHOULD NOT RATIFY ICC JUST TO LOOK GOOD - ATTORNEY-GENERAL
KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia should not recognise the International Criminal Court (ICC), merely to look good in the eyes of the international community, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail said.
He said that should Malaysia choose to join the convention, it had to fully contribute and play an appropriate role as a member country.
"We cannot just simply join, sit down and be comfortable, but if we are to join, it must be with integrity and dignity.
"I have seen a lot of countries that have ratified the convention but had done little or nothing at all," he said in his keynote address at the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Consultation on Universality of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Parliament building here Thursday.
Abdul Gani said, it would be more important for Malaysia to amend certain laws first before deciding to join 114 member states of the ICC and ratify the convention.
Explaining further, Abdul Gani said, apart from making amendment to some laws, there were also policy matters that had to be considered by the government before it could ratify any international convention.
''I believe the government will be seriously looking into it and after they have sort out these 'little-little issues', the goverment will ratify it (ICC)," he said when met by reporters after the event.
Declining to explain further on what he meant by 'little-little issues', Abdul Gani however said, the amendment would not be limited to any particular law.
Meanwhile, Senate president Abu Zahar Ujang said Malaysia should consider becoming a member of the ICC.
"In the issue of the rule of law, we have the jurisdiction which is very, very open. I personally think that we should engage ourselves because we have nothing to lose, and why should we be isolated from this matter (not to become ICC member),?" he asked after closing the two-day seminar.
The seminar, which began Thursday, was hosted by the Malaysian Parliament, with support of the European Union, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
The ICC is the first permanent and independent international court tasked with investigating and bringing to justice, individuals who commit the most serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights.
As of January, this year, 114 states have become members of the court, including Bosnia Herzegovina, Afghanistan, Cambodia and France.
He said that should Malaysia choose to join the convention, it had to fully contribute and play an appropriate role as a member country.
"We cannot just simply join, sit down and be comfortable, but if we are to join, it must be with integrity and dignity.
"I have seen a lot of countries that have ratified the convention but had done little or nothing at all," he said in his keynote address at the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Consultation on Universality of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Parliament building here Thursday.
Abdul Gani said, it would be more important for Malaysia to amend certain laws first before deciding to join 114 member states of the ICC and ratify the convention.
Explaining further, Abdul Gani said, apart from making amendment to some laws, there were also policy matters that had to be considered by the government before it could ratify any international convention.
''I believe the government will be seriously looking into it and after they have sort out these 'little-little issues', the goverment will ratify it (ICC)," he said when met by reporters after the event.
Declining to explain further on what he meant by 'little-little issues', Abdul Gani however said, the amendment would not be limited to any particular law.
Meanwhile, Senate president Abu Zahar Ujang said Malaysia should consider becoming a member of the ICC.
"In the issue of the rule of law, we have the jurisdiction which is very, very open. I personally think that we should engage ourselves because we have nothing to lose, and why should we be isolated from this matter (not to become ICC member),?" he asked after closing the two-day seminar.
The seminar, which began Thursday, was hosted by the Malaysian Parliament, with support of the European Union, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
The ICC is the first permanent and independent international court tasked with investigating and bringing to justice, individuals who commit the most serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights.
As of January, this year, 114 states have become members of the court, including Bosnia Herzegovina, Afghanistan, Cambodia and France.
