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Human Rights Commission of Malaysia

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Human Rights Commission of Malaysia
Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia
SUHAKAM
Agency overview
Formed3 April 2000;24 years ago(2000-04-03)
TypeGovernment of Malaysia
HeadquartersTingkat 11, Menara TH Perdana, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250Kuala Lumpur
MottoHuman Rights For All
(Hak Asasi Untuk Semua)
Employees(2018)
Annual budgetMYR10,116,300 (2018)
Agency executive
  • Rahmat Mohamad[1],Chairman
Parent agencyMalaysian Parliament
Key document
  • Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, Act 597
Websitesuhakam.org.my
Footnotes
Human Rights Commission of MalaysiaonFacebook

TheHuman Rights Commission of Malaysia(Malay:Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia) better known by its acronymSUHAKAMis thenational human rights institution(NHRI) of Malaysia. It was established by theMalaysian Parliamentunder the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, Act 597,[2]and began its work in April 2000.[3]Its mandate is to promotehuman rights education,advise on legislation and policy, and conduct investigations.

Having been established after the fallout of theAnwar Ibrahimcontroversy, some lacked confidence in its independence from the government of the then Prime MinisterMahathir Mohamad.However, whenMusa Hitamwas named as the first chairman of the (initially, 13-member) commission, these fears were eased, as he was believed to be critical of Mahathir in many ways.[4]The commission's recommendations under Musa, however, were often not implemented by the government. When his two-year term ended, he did not seek reappointment.

Musa was replaced with Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman in April 2002. Abu Talib had served asAttorney Generalunder Mahathir, and was also involved in theAnwar Ibrahimcontroversy. As reported inMalaysiakini,he was widely seen as close to Mahathir, but SUHAKAM under Abu Talib continued to put forth many human rights recommendations. Many of these recommendations have yet to be acted upon by the government.

International standing[edit]

SUHAKAM was accredited as a full "A status" member of theAsia Pacific Forum(APF), the regional network of NHRIs, and has since been reaccredited by theInternational Co-ordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions(ICC) to which the APF now defers on accreditation.

In 2008 SUHAKAM was asked by the accreditation subcommittee of the ICC to explain in writing within a year, evidence to establish its continued conformity with theParis Principles,failure of which would result in a status downgrade from A to B and would disqualify them from attending sessions hosted by theUN Human Rights Council.[5]The ICC sought to encourage the Government of Malaysia to amend the body's founding laws and make it more independent. However, when SUHAKAM was reviewed by the ICC in November 2009, it was decided to retain its A status pending a further review to be carried out in 2010, with particular attention to the process for selecting members of the commission.[6]

SUHAKAM regrets use of Act[edit]

On 9 May 2008, SUHAKAM stated that it was concerned by theSedition Actbeing used to curb freedom of speech. Datuk N. Siva Subramaniam (pmp)said the fundamental freedom enshrined in theConstitution,including the freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly, must be safeguarded and he also made comments on the arrest and charging of the editor of the news portalMalaysia Today,Raja Petra Kamarudinsaying "SUHAKAM regrets that Raja Petra was charged under theInternal Security Act (Malaysia),as this is an infringement on the freedom of speech which is a fundamental human right. The use of the Act in this case is unjustified as civil remedies could have been sought in a Court of Law ".[7]

Concerning child marriage in Malaysia[edit]

Suhakam ChairmanRazali Ismailcondemns the recurrence ofchild marriagein Malaysia, calling it "a violation of human rights and not a solution to poverty".[8]Suhakam is against marriages involving underage children, especially those coming from the poor families. This practice is unfair to the children involved and provided a method for parents to sell their children through marriage. As of 2018, child marriage is still practiced in Malaysia, often as a means of getting out of poverty by turning children into commodities. Razali also called upon thewomen, family and community development ministryto make social protection programmes for poor children a priority.

References[edit]

  1. ^"Prof Dr Rahmat Mohamad appointed new Suhakam chairman".The Star.1 July 2022.Retrieved1 July2022.
  2. ^SUHAKAM ActArchived23 May 2012 at theWayback Machine
  3. ^"Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM)".www.suhakam.org.my.Retrieved5 June2019.
  4. ^"Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM) – Commissioners".www.suhakam.org.my.Retrieved5 June2019.
  5. ^"Suhakam might lose 'A' status".Malaysiakini.25 July 2008.Retrieved17 October2020.
  6. ^"'A status' accreditation recommended for Malaysia, Nepal — Asia Pacific Forum ".Archived fromthe originalon 2 June 2010.Retrieved31 May2010.
  7. ^"Suhakam regrets use of Act".thestar.com.my.Archived fromthe originalon 9 May 2008.Retrieved22 May2022.
  8. ^"Suhakam warns of child trade if underage marriage allowed".Free Malaysia Today.19 September 2018.Retrieved24 September2018.

External links[edit]