Human rights courses to start next year

A DAP assemblyman’s service centre in Penang will run human rights courses for the public next year.

Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik said he planned to provide the courses regarding matters such as ‘dealing with the police’ and ‘how to protect ourselves with the law’ through his service centre in Lorong Seratus Tahun.

“Citizens should be empowered with the knowledge of basic human rights to protect themselves,” he said during the International Human Rights Day celebration at the service centre recently.

The event organised by the Tanjung DAP Socialist Youth was attended by service centre members and local residents.

It started with a skit and ended with the singing of songs like ‘The Internationale’ and ‘A Better Tomorrow.’ Candles arranged to form the abbreviations, ‘ISA’, ‘OSA’ and ‘AUKU’, were also lighted.

“Human rights are something we are born with and they should not be taken away by force,” he said, adding that the Internal Security Act (ISA), Official Secrets Act (OSA) and Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU) should be abolished.

Ng said the United Nations had declared Dec 10 last year to Dec 10 this year as International Human Rights Year. Dec 10 is the International Human Rights Day.

The Star, Friday December 12, 2008
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/12/12/north/2777586&sec=north