Bar president Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor said despite promises in its election manifesto, the PH government has failed to repeal draconian laws.

“They remain still on our statute books,” he said in a statement to mark Human Rights Day which was celebrated on Dec 10.

Fareed noted that authorities had used the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) against 12 individuals accused of being part of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

He said the government later stated that it would remove certain draconian provisions from the act.

“This cannot continue to be the mode in which reform is effected.

“The Malaysian Bar calls on the government to remain faithful to its manifesto promises on human rights and implement the same without delay,” he said.

Law minister Liew Vui Keong had said that Putrajaya was “developing concrete solutions for unresolved human rights issues neglected by the previous government”.

Fareed said the country’s human rights record had been “severely challenged” with the government’s about-turn on international rights conventions, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the refusal to accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

He said the government should also be part of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) without delay.

“The acceptance and incorporation of international norms and standards as set out in these conventions are necessary in establishing universal baselines for human rights.”