Human Rights Commission of Malaysia
Encyclopedia
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia better known locally as Suhakam is a national human rights institution (NHRI) in Malaysia. It was established by the Malaysian Parliament
using the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, Act 597, with a mandate to promote human rights education
, advise on legislation and policy, and investigation. Currently the commission is headed by Tan Sri Hasmy Agam, a former diplomat.
Having being established after the fallout of the Anwar Ibrahim
controversy, some lacked confidence in its independence fom the government of the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Muhammad. However, when Tan Sri Dato' Musa Hitam
was named as the first chairman of Suhakam, these fears were eased, as he was believed to be critical of Dr Mahathir in many ways. The commission's recommendations under Musa, however, were often not implemented by the government. When his term ended, he did not seek reappointment.
When Musa left, he was replaced with Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman in April 2002. Abu Talib had served as Attorney General under Dr Mahathir, and was also involved in the Anwar Ibrahim
controversy. As reported in Malaysiakini
, he was widely seen as close to Dr 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.
(APF), the regional network of NHRIs, and has since been reaccredited by the International 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 why it should not be downgraded from A status to B status, which would deprive it of certain access privileges within the United Nations
system. 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.
, Raja Petra Kamarudin
saying "Suhakam regrets that Raja Petra was charged under the Internal 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".
Parliament of Malaysia
The Parliament of Malaysia is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The King as the Head of State is the third component of Parliament....
using the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, Act 597, with a mandate to promote human rights education
Human rights education
Human rights education is the teaching of the history, theory, and law of human rights in schools and educational institutions, as well as outreach to the general public.-Human rights education and the United Nations:...
, advise on legislation and policy, and investigation. Currently the commission is headed by Tan Sri Hasmy Agam, a former diplomat.
Having being established after the fallout of the Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar bin Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician who served as Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1998. Early in his career, Anwar was a close ally of Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad but subsequently emerged as the most prominent critic of Mahathir's government.In 1999, he was sentenced...
controversy, some lacked confidence in its independence fom the government of the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Muhammad. However, when Tan Sri Dato' Musa Hitam
Musa Hitam
Tun Musa bin Hitam , is a Malaysian politician and a former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, serving under Mahathir bin Mohamad. He was born in Johor Bahru, Johor in 1934...
was named as the first chairman of Suhakam, these fears were eased, as he was believed to be critical of Dr Mahathir in many ways. The commission's recommendations under Musa, however, were often not implemented by the government. When his term ended, he did not seek reappointment.
When Musa left, he was replaced with Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman in April 2002. Abu Talib had served as Attorney General under Dr Mahathir, and was also involved in the Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar bin Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician who served as Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1998. Early in his career, Anwar was a close ally of Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad but subsequently emerged as the most prominent critic of Mahathir's government.In 1999, he was sentenced...
controversy. As reported in Malaysiakini
Malaysiakini
Malaysiakini is a political news website published in English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. Since its launch on November 20, 1999, it has been widely considered to be one of the leading non-government owned paid-news agencies in Malaysia. Compete.com estimates that Malaysiakini now attracts over...
, he was widely seen as close to Dr 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
Suhakam was accredited as a full "A status" member of the Asia Pacific ForumAsia Pacific Forum
The Asia Pacific Forum is one of four regional networks of national human rights institutions within the International Co-ordinating Committee of NHRIs...
(APF), the regional network of NHRIs, and has since been reaccredited by the International Co-ordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions
International Co-ordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions
The International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions, sometimes shortened to the International Coordinating Committee , is a global network of national human rights institutions - administrative bodies set up to promote, protect and monitor human rights in a given country...
(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 why it should not be downgraded from A status to B status, which would deprive it of certain access privileges within the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
system. 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.
Suhakam regrets use of Act
On May 9 2008, Suhakam stated that it was concerned by the Sedition Act being used to curb freedom of speech. Datuk N. Siva Subramaniam said the fundamental freedom enshrined in the Constitution, 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 portal Malaysia TodayMalaysia Today
Malaysia Today is a popular Malaysian news blog. It is known for being critical of both the governing Barisan Nasional coalition and opposition parties such as the Democratic Action Party and Parti Keadilan Rakyat. Its founder and chief editor is Raja Petra Kamarudin, a former political detainee...
, Raja Petra Kamarudin
Raja petra kamarudin
Raja Petra bin Raja Kamarudin is a Malaysian editor known for running the Malaysia Today website and publishing a series of commentary articles on Malaysian politics in the website. He is also fondly referred to by the initials RPK.He was detained for a second time under the Internal Security Act,...
saying "Suhakam regrets that Raja Petra was charged under the Internal Security Act (Malaysia)
Internal Security Act (Malaysia)
The Internal Security Act 1960 is a preventive detention law in force in Malaysia. The legislation was enacted after Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957. The ISA allows for detention without trial or criminal charges under limited, legally defined circumstances...
, 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".