Govt to implement some Suhakam recommendations, says minister

This is the first time Suhakam’s annual report is being debated in the Dewan Rakyat.

KUALA LUMPUR: After an unprecedented debate on the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia‘s (Suhakam) annual report in the Dewan Rakyat today, de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong said the government may implement some of the recommendations.

In the past, Suhakam’s annual reports were never debated in Parliament. Allowing a debate on the report was one of the pledges stated in the Pakatan Harapan election manifesto.

Speaking to the press at the Parliament lobby, he said: “The tabling and debating of the report mean that the government will consider all of their recommendations in their report.

“We we will fulfil whatever recommendations we can.”

He added that views put forward by the MPs during the debate would also be taken into consideration.

Meanwhile, Suhakam chairman Othman Hashim said the debating of the report showed the government’s commitment in raising awareness of human rights issues in the country.

“I was very satisfied with the debate just now. The MPs have touched on human rights issues that are getting public attention.

“We appreciate this, and we have received the MPs’ feedback on issues that are important to the rakyat,” he said.

The 2018 annual report was tabled in Parliament last April 11 and publicly released on April 19. - FMT