From The Singapore Straits Times, 6th May 2000

Param Cumaraswamy is biased against KL and should not have been reappointed, says Foreign Minister

KUALA LUMPUR -- A United Nations special rapporteur, Mr Param Cumaraswamy, is biased and should not have been reappointed, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said.

Malaysia has registered its dissatisfaction with the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva about Mr Cumaraswamy's recent reappointment as a special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, he said.

Mr Param, a Malaysian, was not immediately available for comment. "We know he has made many comments against the country and is also biased. We feel he is unable to carry out his duties independently," Datuk Seri Syed Hamid told a press conference.

"We feel the rapporteur who represents a country must have certain criteria. He must be objective with a broad mind and without bias against the country he is chosen to work in."

"We have informed the UN that there must be some criteria in such appointment that is the person must be impartial, independent with no certain position and views that will cause the person not to be able to perform his duty independently or impartially," he said.

"Malaysia felt that the person should not have an attitude of prejudice in the country he is posted. If the person is to be posted in a particular country, it should have the consent of the country involved," he said.

Datuk Syed Hamid called for "more transparency in the selection process," saying there should not be any double standards when it comes to certain countries.

On Friday, he announced that Malaysia has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Commission for the 2001-2003 term. Mr Param faces four libel suits totalling RM426 million (S$193 million) filed by several companies over a 1995 article entitled "Malaysian Justice on Trial".

The International Court of Justice ruled in April 1999 that he has legal immunity and should be held "financially harmless" from any damages. But Malaysian courts have ruled that he is not covered by the international court's ruling.

His case has attracted international concern.

The US State Department has criticised Malaysian courts for refusing to recognise his legal immunity and said this raised questions over the fairness and impartiality of the judiciary.

Four international legal groups last month strongly criticised what they called government interference in Malaysia's legal system and expressed concern about the fairness of the trial of ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim. -- AFP, Bernama