KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians have voiced their support for United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday after the UN chief called on Malaysia's security laws to maintain human rights. Prime Minister Najib Razak last year said he would replace Malaysia's Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows detention without trial and has been widely criticized for decades as a tool to suppress dissent. “I hope the government will ensure that the replacement laws will be in full compliance with international human rights standards,” the UN secretary general said in a speech in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. Across Malaysia, activists and citizens appear to be pleased with the UN chief's comments, telling Bikyamasr.com that “it will be hard for many to ignore now after the UN boss says something,” one young university student said. Others, however, remain skeptical over how much good Ban's visit can really achieve, although almost all activists and young people agreed that human rights must be boosted. “I think it is a lot like someone from the West coming and kind of lecturing on what we are supposed to do and what we shouldn't and many will see it this way,” last-year university student Alan, a half-English half-Malay political science student, told Bikyamasr.com. “At the end of the day, Malaysians are very worried about outside influence,” he added. PM Razak has promised to unveil what he says will be softer replacement laws for the ISA in parliament, possibly next month. While the moves have been hailed by rights groups as a step in the right direction, activists and the political opposition remain wary, warning that the proof of Najib's sincerity will be seen in the content of the replacement laws. The simple reality, many agree here in the Malaysian capital, is that by having the UN chief talk about human rights, they hope it will lead to something for the country. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/0UmUn Tags: Ban, featured, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, rights, UN Section: Human Rights, Latest News, Southeast Asia
