CHAPTER 4 - REPORT OF THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS WORKING GROUP 6. ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS (a) Meeting with Members of Parliament On 25 March, the ECOSOCWG coordinated a meeting between members of the Commission and Members of Parliament (MPs), to channel various human rights issues affecting Malaysia to the Government.7 The following issues were discussed: (i) Ratification of international treaties There is a need for Malaysia to ratify the ICESCR as this would enhance its development status. There is also a need for Malaysia to move towards withdrawal of all its reservations on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and CEDAW, as well as to accede to their Optional Protocols. All the MPs present reacted positively to this. They viewed the ICESCR as a mechanism that can improve quality of life and boost Malaysia’s progress towards Vision 2020. The Commission later forwarded to the MPs its justifications on the need to ratify certain Conventions and for withdrawal of Malaysia’s reservations under CEDAW and CRC. These issues are expected to be raised in Parliament. (ii) Internal Security Act 1960 The Commission reiterated its stand that this legislation should be abolished as it has elements that violate human rights, for instance, detention without trial. In many cases, detainees had maintained their innocence, but could not prove it as they had no access to the Courts. (iii) Conditions in prisons and detention centres The Government should overcome the issue of overcrowding in prisons and detention centres in order to minimise clashes and spread of infectious diseases among inmates. The Commission’s visits also found that a number of the centres are in a decrepit state. 7 Members of Parliament present were YB Datuk Halimah Mohd. Sadique (Tenggara), YB Haji Salleh Haji Kalbi (Silam), YB Datuk Wira Ahmad Hamzah (Jasin), YB Dato’ Mohd Jidin Shafee (Setiu), YB Dato’ Haji Ismail Mohamed Said (Kuala Krau) and YB Tuan Aaron Ago Anak Dagang Said (Kanowit) 76