27 August 2011

Peguam British dinafikan untuk memasuki Malaysia


Artikel ini memberikan gambaran jelas situasi yang dialami oleh seorang peguam yang ditahan dari memasuki Malaysia atas tugasannya sebagai seorang peguam. Tiada apa-apa dosa yang dibuat oleh peguam ini melainkan tugasannya itu mungkin tidak menyenangkan sesetengah pihak eksekutif sehingga pihak imigresen diarahkan untuk membuat penghantaran pulang.



On being detained at Kuala Lumpur airport

Malaysia didn't want me to enter the country to gather evidence about how ethnic Indians were treated by colonial Britain

By: Imran Khan


In the Hollywood film The Terminal [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362227/" title="Imdb: The Terminal] Tom Hanks plays (with obligatory mangled foreign accent) a character who is trapped in New York's JFK airport. Last week, I had a similar experience at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Malaysia. Whereas Tom Hanks's character spends years trapped, I was only there for a few hours. The episode was both humiliating and enlightening. I had been engaged by a Malaysian lawyer, Waytha Moorthy [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waytha_Moorthy_Ponnusamy" title="Wikipedia: Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy], to look into taking action against the British government for its role in the exploitation of Indian Hindus during Malaysia's period as a colony, and its failure to protect their rights when independence was declared in 1957.

Ethnic Indians make up just over 6% [http://tinyurl.com/449j2ja" title="Department of Statistics Malaysia: Population and housing census 2010] of Malaysia's 28.3 million people, while Muslim Malays account for just over 61% and ethnic Chinese some 25%. A coalition led by the United Malays National Organisation [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Malays_National_Organisation" title="Wikipedia: United Malays National Organisation] has ruled since independence, which, according to Moorthy, had led to widespread human rights violations and discrimination [http://www.economist.com/node/10566786?story_id=10566786" title="The Economist: Indian Mutiny] of the Indian Malaysian population. About 70% live in abject poverty and one in six are effectively stateless as they are denied a birth certificate. Moorthy originally lodged his action on the 31 August 2007, the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence.

However, the claim stalled following the arrest of the lawyers involved under a draconian piece of legislation called the Internal Security Act [http://www.hrw.org/legacy/backgrounder/asia/malaysia-bck-0513.htm" title="Human Rights News: Malaysia's Internal Security Act and suppression of political dissent]. Moorthy had demanded compensation for Indian Malaysians whose ancestors were brought in by the British government as indentured labour. The claim was that, after granting independence, the British had left the Indians without representation and at the mercy of the Malays.

So, the plan was to visit Malaysia and gather evidence and claims that would form the foundation of the case. A recent case involving individuals tortured by British soldiers [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/21/mau-mau-torture-kenyans-compensation" title="Guardian: Mau Mau torture claim Kenyans win right to sue British government] in colonial Kenya gave fresh impetus to the proceedings. My pending arrival in Malaysia had received advance publicity [http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/08/06/waythas-us4-trillion-suit-to-clear-ambiguity/" title="Free Malaysia Today: Waythas UK legal suit to clear ambiguity] from local police who had sought to intimidate organisers of the venue where I was expected to meet potential claimants. There was, therefore, some trepidation when I presented myself to the immigration desk on arrival at KLIA.

As soon as my passport was handed over at the immigration desk, the slow cogs of government bureaucracy moved into action. Without explanation I was taken to the immigration office. KLIA is an impressive building; made of polished steel and glass it has a central hub with four long offshoots. It is populated by the ubiquitous outlets that make most airports seem identical. However,, the immigration office was a more spartan affair. Teams of immigration officers sat behind desks shouting the names of those refused entry to come forward and explain their reasons for trying to enter.

Handing my passport over to one of them I noticed the large sign on the back wall of the office, "Service with a smile" it said. True to their motto a pleasant immigration officer smiled while she told me that I had been refused entry. I asked for an explanation and was told that the immigration department had no problem with me, the decision to refuse me entry had come from the very top. I asked for written reasons. The officer agreed that I should be given them but none were given. It was not until I was in transit in Dubai that I found out that I had been classed as a "prohibited immigrant".

I still have no idea what that means and despite the involvement of the British consulate and the British government cabinet office, I found myself stranded, waiting for my return flight. It was clear that the decision was a political one, I had been refused entry to stop me doing work that the government of Malaysia did not want to take place. Thousands were expected to attend meetings that had been organised. I was to see the ways in which government policies had affected the lives of Indian Malaysians in all parts of the country. Yet, like many governments which seek to stifle opposition, its actions are often irrational because, while refusing me entry into the country, it had allowed my colleague who had been travelling with me to do so. He is now meeting all those potential claimants and collecting evidence to progress the claim.

Meanwhile, sitting in the immigration office at KLIA gave me a glimpse of how differently people are treated in Malaysia. Sitting beside me awaiting interrogation were men, predominantly young, on their own and originating from Pakistan, India or sub-Saharan Africa. They would be summoned to their meeting with an immigration officer via an intermediary, always a Malaysian of Chinese origin wearing a coloured paper bracelet to signify that he had clearance to come into the airport. He would order his charge in terms which reminded me of a master/servant relationship, a click of the fingers, a terse command, the use of their surname only. These men appeared to be workers entering the country through the patronage of their Chinese bosses. It didn't take much imagination to work out how they would be treated once they left the airport terminal [http://www.hrw.org/news/2010/08/02/hrw-malaysia-has-excellent-human-trafficking-system" title="Human Rights Watch: HRW: Malaysia has 'excellent' human trafficking system ].

These were the lucky ones. Those sharing my predicament were marched off to a detention centre before being sent back to their country of origin. Thankfully, I was told that I had been spared such a fate. Nevertheless, the experience was a humiliating one. Without a passport or able to leave the terminal I could not check in; I was escorted to the aircraft to be seated; my passport was handed over to the aircraft crew who viewed me with suspicion and contempt.

I have often thought that lawyers, as well as doctors, should consider what it is like to be in their clients' position so that it can inform their approach. This was one occasion when I truly felt what it must be like for detainees all over the world, coming up against foreign jurisdiction; facing a decision which may be wrong and unjust; being treated without dignity; occupying a twilight world of ever-changing time zones and feeling utterly powerless.

Having returned to the UK, I am even more determined to ensure that the issues raised by the case are highlighted beyond the borders of Malaysia. Like many in Britain, I had only thought of Malaysia as the country advertised in brochures. Every day, buses pass my office window in central London emblazoned with adverts encouraging us to visit Malaysia, illustrated with montages of sun and sea. Few people are likely look beyond that image or get to see the reality that exists underneath. For me, a country that, on the face of it, is engaged in widespread, institutional discrimination and human rights abuses should rightly be condemned. Even more so when it refuses its citizens access to legal representation.

Imran Khan
Friday August 26 2011

To see this story with its related links on the guardian.co.uk site, go tohttp://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2011/aug/25/malaysia-kuala-lumpur-airport-ethnic-indians

21 July 2011

Juham kaji tindakan keganasan polis pada Tiong Huat



KUALA LUMPUR, 20 Julai: Jabatan Undang-Undang dan Hak Asasi Manusia (Juham) Dewan Pemuda PAS Malaysia akan mengkaji setiap sudut berkaitan keganasan pihak polis terhadap seorang lelaki berketurunan Cina dari Sarawak, Hii Tiong Huat, 59, yang ditahan polis sempena perhimpunan aman Bersih 2.0 di Kuala Lumpur pada 9 Julai lalu.
Sepanjang berada dalam tahanan polis, Hii Tiong Huat didakwa telah dikasari oleh pihak polis dengan pelbagai perlakuan yang tidak sepatutnya sehingga menyebabkan beliau pengsan.
Pengarah Juham, Ahmad Zamri Asa'ad Khuzaimi menjelaskan, kajian tersebut akan dibuat bersama laporan-laporan lain bagi membolehkan Juham mengambil tindakan lebih lanjut berhubung keganasan pihak polis.
Menurut beliau, ia juga adalah lanjutan kenyataan Timbalan Ketua Polis Negara, Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar yang menyarankan agar setiap pihak yang menjadi mangsa keganasan polis tampil mengemukakan bukti berhubung dakwaan masing-masing.
Katanya, kes yang berlaku ke atas Tiong Huat ternyata merupakan sebahagian daripada keganasan polis terhadap orang awam, khususnya para peserta perhimpunan aman Bersih 2.0 anjuran Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih 2.0) di Kuala Lumpur pada 9 Julai lalu.
"Tindakan keganasan polis terhadap Tiong Huat sememangnya tidak boleh dinafikan lagi oleh setiap pihak, malah Tiong Huat sendiri telah pun membuat laporan polis akibat keganasan polis yang berlaku ke atas beliau," katanya ketika ditemui di Mahkamah Sesyen Jenayah Kuala Lumpur, di sini, hari ini.
Tiong Huat, menurut beliau, bukan ditahan pada hari perhimpunan, malah sehari sebelum perhimpunan itu diadakan hanya disebabkan beliau memakai baju kuning, tetapi bukan baju kuning Bersih 2.0.
"Beliau ditahan di Balai Polis Dang Wangi. Ketika ditahan di Dang Wangi, beliau telah dipukul oleh pihak polis. Selepas itu, beliau ditahan reman pula selama 4 hari di Pusat Tahanan Bukit Jalil.
"Semasa ditahan di Pusat Tahanan Bukit Jalil, Tiong Huat dipukul lagi sehingga pengsan, manakala wangnya pula turut hilang ketika berada dalam tahanan polis," katanya.
Akibatnya, jelasnya, Tiong Huat terpaksa mendapatkan rawatan di Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) dan Hospital Tung Shin di Jalan Pudu, Kuala Lumpur.
"KDN kata polis tak ganas dalam menangani perhimpunan itu. Tapi kes yang berlaku ke atas Tiong Huat itu, belum berhimpun pun dah ditangkap dan dikasari pula oleh pihak polis.
"Pada hal sebelum itu, pihak polis juga berkata, tidak salah pakai baju kuning, tetapi yang salah hanya pakai baju kuning Bersih 2.0. Tiong Huat pula tak pakai baju kuning Bersih 2.0. Dia hanya memakai baju kuning. Kenapa dia ditangkap?
"Selain itu, Tiong Huat ternyata dikasari oleh pihak polis semasa berada dalam tahanan polis. Dia dipukul, ditampar di muka, ditendang, malah sehingga pengsan. Tidakkah semua yang berlaku ke atas Tiong Huat itu antara bukti nyata keganasan pihak polis?" katanya.
Sementara itu, Hii Tiong Huat ketika ditemui menjelaskan, laporan berhubung keganasan pihak polis terhadap beliau telah dibuat di Balai Polis Sungai Besi, Cheras pada 13 Julai lalu jam 1.28 tengah hari.
Dalam laporan itu, beliau berkata, pada jam 3.00 petang 9 Julai lalu, beliau telah dimasukkan ke Pusat Tahanan Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur kerana memakai baju kuning, setelah ditangkap pada 8 Julai di Petaling Street, di sini.
Menurutnya, semasa proses tukar baju di Pusat Tahanan Bukit Jalil, seorang anggota polis dengan kasar telah menyuruh beliau memasukkan seluar dan barang-barangnya ke dalam beg plastik yang dibekalkan kepadanya.
Katanya, beliau ingin senarai barang-barangnya direkodkan, tetapi anggota polis yang bertugas dengan marah mengatakan kepada beliau supaya jangan bising dan telah menampar mukanya beberapa kali sehingga cermin matanya rosak dan beliau tidak sedarkan diri.
"Kemudian saya telah memasukkan seluar saya yang berisi duit lebih kurang RM300.00, jam tangan, rantai jed, buku kecil dan seluar dalam ke tempat simpanan.
"Selepas itu, saya dimasukkan ke blok A Pusat Tahanan Bukit Jalil, tetapi saya tidak dapat tidur semasa berada di Pusat Tahanan Bukit Jalil kerana ada orang yang ditempatkan dalam sel lokap saya 15 orang, manakala kelulasan sel lokap pada andaian saya hanya 18 kaki panjang," katanya.
Ketika dalam tahanan di pusat tahanan itu, dakwanya, beliau tidak dibekalkan dengan berus gigi, kain tuala, makan tidak cukup dan tiada sabun badan.
"Pada jam 11.00 pagi 12 Julai, saya dibawa ke IPD Dang Wangi dan dibebaskan pada jam 6.00 petang 12 Julai. Pada jam 11.00 pagi 13 Julai, saya datang semula ke Pusat Tahanan Bukit Jalil untuk mendapatkan kembali barang-barang saya.
"Tetapi saya dapati wang yang disimpan di dalam poket seluar saya hanya tinggal RM172.00 bersama barang-barang saya yang lain yang berada di dalam beg plastik yang disimpan di Pusat Tahanan Bukit Jalil.
"Saya percaya duit saya telah diambil oleh anggota polis yang menampar saya pada hari saya dimasukkan ke Pusat Tahanan Bukit Jalil kerana anggota polis tersebut tidak merekodkan duit dan barang-barang saya yang disimpan dan saya cam anggota polis tersebut.
"Dengan ini, saya tidak puas hati dan mahu pihak polis menjalankan siasatan," katanya.