While I thank the Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman on his reply to my Parliamentary question on the qualities and criteria of the appointment of Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah as the commissioner from Malaysia to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), one cannot help but wonder what vested interest does this government have to protect and defend Shafee Abdullah to this extent? Or will the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Shafee Abdullah resolve to conducting another round of government sponsored roadshows now to justify it further?
As the Minister had nicely put it, Shafee is “well-versed” on human rights issues and therefore is qualified as ASEAN envoy. Unfortunately being “well-versed” on human rights does not warrant for one to advocate implementing it.
Shafee Abdullah may be “well-versed” on human rights issues, but he is also the main player in a lethal game in the oppression of rights; acting as counsel for the Negeri Sembilan government in its appeal against Muslim transgenders for cross-dressing, representing Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in a suit against the university by 3 students, challenging the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) and decidedly, the wrongful incarceration of Anwar Ibrahim who has been once again a victim of a political ploy to silence him.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also claimed that Shafee Abdullah has an “institutional memory”.
By definition, while an ideology can be preserved, it also means that institutional memory may be ingrained to the point it becomes hard to challenge, even if something is found to contradict that which was previously thought to have been correct.
Does this mean, in the words of the Minister, that Shafee Abdullah works on auto-pilot mode to go to great lengths to protect and preserve the hands that feed him, dulu, kini dan selamanya and therefore will stick to his guns even if hell freezes over? Does it mean that human rights issues will have to be sidelined while he bids the orders of the government of the day?
What about Shafee Abdullah’s own credentials as commissioner to AICHR? What are Shafee Abdullah’s views on the rule of law? What are his views on draconian laws still used in Malaysia? What are his views on freedom of speech? What are his views on death in custody? What are his views on the right to oppose? What are his views on freedom of assembly? What are his views on difference in political philosophies, ethnicities and religion? What are his views on transgenders? What are his views on UUCA? What are his views on the RCI on illegals in Sabah? What are his views on violence against women? What are his views on the death penalty? What are his views on the refugee crisis in Malaysia? What are his views on the 1948 Sedition Act?
No one really knows for sure. And yet it is his second term representing Malaysia at the AICHR.
If indeed he is representing Malaysia, then he is also representing Malaysians, and Malaysians deserve to know what this man stands for, his principles and his opinion on national matters without prejudice, fear or favour.
Unfortunately, Shafee Abdullah has not earned that title yet; and certainly not in the hearts of Malaysians alike.
Has he been handed this position, on a silver platter because, Shafee Abdullah from 1988, was and still is advisor to the Malaysian government, legal advisor to the various Prime Ministers in Malaysia, legal advisor to UMNO, legal advisor to DYMM Sultan of Pahang, legal advisor to the Crown Prince of Johore, legal advisor to the acting Sultan of Deli, Medan, Indonesia, and director of various companies including public listed companies involved in construction?
How can Shafee Abdullah admonish on human rights when he himself abuses it? A mockery that he will impart his “well-versed” knowledge on human rights at AICHR meetings when he has botched and bungled on home ground?
What kind of image will Malaysia portray amongst other ASEAN nations with a representative like Shafee Abdullah, the man who made up a story of his perverted “nipple-pinching” innuendo in the arraignment and incarceration of Anwar Ibrahim in one of the most politically charged cases in the history of the country?
The time has come for Malaysians to fearlessly put their foot down and condemn the appointment of Shafee Abdullah as a representative of Malaysia and that the Malaysian government must exercise its right to replace its representative as enshrined in the terms of reference of AICHR.
The prostitution of human rights must end here with Shafee Abdullah being stripped of the title of commissioner and a new commissioner be appointed, from a human rights body or from civil society to represent Malaysia at the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, in full spirit of transparency, accountability and competency.
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1352251#sthash.iO3p0Qdn.dpuf
http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=95618