'Crucial for Parliament to debate Suhakam report'

 

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has expressed disappointment that its 2019 annual report will not be debated in Parliament.

It said the report covers numerous pressing issues that require urgent action by the government.

“The annual report also contains Suhakam’s recommendations relating to the rights of vulnerable communities, including indigenous peoples, women and children, victims of human trafficking, refugees and asylum seekers and workers...

“Suhakam is of the view that it is crucial for the annual report to be debated in Parliament as it will allow MPs to critically discuss human rights issues of public interest in Malaysia and propose possible solutions to these issues,” the commission said in a statement last night.

Suhakam’s 2019 annual report was tabled in Parliament on Nov 4.

However, de facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan said yesterday that the report would not be debated this year, due to a lack of time.

“If any MP is interested in discussing it indirectly, they can cite the report at any time during a debate,” he told the Dewan Rakyat during the Ministers’ Question Time session yesterday.

Suhakam acknowledged Takiyuddin’s statement that under Section 21 of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, there is no specific requirement for its annual report to be debated in the Dewan Rakyat.

Nevertheless, it hoped that such debates would become an annual affair.

Suhakam’s annual report was debated only once in the august House, on Dec 5 last year.

“Suhakam hopes that this practice would be continued this year and in future.

“Suhakam also urges the government to recognise the importance of human rights issues as part of the government’s regular affairs, especially in parliamentary debates,” it added. - Mkini