Malaysia must explain role in ‘War on Terror’, says Nik Nazmi

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia must explain its role in the torture of terror suspects by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, said PKR youth leader Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (pic).

A report on the CIA’s use of torture that was released by the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday, detailed the harsh interrogation methods the agency is alleged to have used on captured terror suspects.

“The report has ramifications for Malaysia because it highlights the role that our country and other allies in the ‘Global War on Terror’ played in the practice of ‘extraordinary rendition’, that is to say, the covert capture and transfer of such suspects to various clandestine detention facilities set up for such purposes,” said Nik Nazmi in a statement, Wednesday.

He also cited the Feb 2013 report titled “Globalising Torture: CIA Secret Detention and Extraordinary Rendition” by the Open Society Justice Initiative which alleged that Malaysia had assisted the CIA in at least two cases.

“While stopping terror plots is paramount, Malaysia should not have compromised its moral integrity in this way,” Nik Nazmi said.

He added that “the war against terrorism and extremism is a war of values” and that the two threats can only be defeated if we remain dedicated to preserving civil liberties and personal freedoms while protecting the lives of our citizens.

“Indeed, the efficacy and quality of intelligence that the practice of extraordinary rendition has produced has repeatedly been questioned.

He said that a summary of the report revealed that at least one individual had died from torture and that 26 from over a hundred detainees had been wrongfully held.

“Both the US and Malaysia owe their public, as well as the world at large, an explanation over this sordid and sorry affair,” Nik Nazmi said.