Suhakam hopes its report will be debated in Parliament

With the first parliamentary session expected to be held this month under the new Pakatan Harapan government, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) expressed hope that the government will debate its annual report.

If it is done, then this will be the first time in the 16 years of its annual reports that Parliament will discuss it, Suhakam chairperson Razali Ismail said in a statement today. Suhakam was established in 2000.

Razali also called for a review of the unnecessary procedures for its annual report to be tabled in Parliament, such as prior cabinet and executive endorsement, in view to institutionalising mutually constructive cooperation with Parliament, as is the case in many democratic countries.

He said these administrative requirements can affect the independence of Suhakam, a vital condition for the effectiveness of every national human rights institution.

“Specifically, Suhakam must seek prior approval from the Ministry of Finance, and the Economic Planning Unit and Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Office, before the report can go to Parliament.

“Suhakam reiterates that Parliament shares a responsibility to promote, protect, respect and fulfil Malaysia’s human rights obligations and must fully realise its crucial role in the protection of human rights.”

In this regard, Razali recalled Suhakam’s recommendation in 2011 for the setting up of a Parliamentary Select Committee on Human Rights to consider human rights matters, as an additional measure to uphold human rights and reinforce parliamentary democracy.

Under the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, Suhakam has to submit an annual report to Parliament on all its activities and the actions taken in respect of them, together with the recommendations in respect of each matter.

Pakatan Harapan leaders, including Teresa Kok and Chow Kon Yeow, when they were in the opposition, had supported the call for the annual Suhakam report to be debated in Parliament, but this was rejected by BN government. -Mkini