PRESS STATEMENT
KUALA LUMPUR (1 DECEMBER 2021) – The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) underscores that the Parliament has a critical role in the promotion and protection of human rights. As such, SUHAKAM expresses support for Members of Parliament in raising matters that affect the rights of the people of Malaysia as well as on those that impact the effective delivery of SUHAKAM’s statutory functions.
In connection to the issue raised by Member of Parliament concerning SUHAKAM’s budget allocation during the Parliament sitting on 22 November 2021, SUHAKAM reiterates its call for the government to ensure that SUHAKAM receives adequate funding and afforded the necessary powers, to enable it to safely, independently and effectively promote and protect human rights in Malaysia. SUHAKAM had recently undergone the reaccreditation process by the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the Global Alliance of the National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), in which the SCA reminded that adequate funding should, to a reasonable degree, ensure gradual and progressive realisation of the improvement of the institution’s operations and the fulfilment of its mandate. In addition, it also stated that where NHRIs has been designated with additional responsibilities by the State, additional financial resources should be provided to enable it to assume the responsibilities of discharging these functions. Aside from the fact that SUHAKAM currently must address a wider range and increasingly complex human rights issues in the country, based on subsection 5(2) of the SUHAKAM Act 1999 (Act 597), the government appointed a dedicated Children’s Commissioner since April 2019 as part of the reforms undertaken by the government in protecting the rights of children. Therefore, the Government should consequently provide SUHAKAM with all the necessary support.
With respect to enhancing its independence, SUHAKAM is working closely with the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) of the Prime Minister’s Department towards amending the SUHAKAM Act 1999, among others, changes sought on SUHAKAM’s capacity as an independent NHRI as well as SUHAKAM’s Annual Report where the Section 21 of its enabling Act does not specifically mention that the Annual Report has to be debated in Parliament. SUHAKAM is of the view that it is crucial for Members of Parliament to critically discuss human right issues of public interest in Malaysia and propose possible solutions to these issues, especially since Putrajaya had pledged to prioritise human rights in its application and, subsequently, its election as a member to the Human Rights Council (HRC) under the auspices of the United Nations for the 2022-2024 term.
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Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
1 December 2021
Media queries: Contact Mrs. Norashikin Hamzah at 03-2612 5687 / 019-621 5336 or shikin@suhakam.org.my
KENYATAAN MEDIA
KUALA LUMPUR (1 DISEMBER 2021) – Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM) menegaskan bahawa Parlimen mempunyai peranan yang penting dalam promosi dan perlindungan hak asasi manusia. Oleh yang demikian, SUHAKAM ingin menyatakan sokongan kepada Ahli Parlimen yang mengetengahkan isu-isu yang memberi kesan kepada hak rakyat Malaysia termasuk apa jua yang memberikan impak kepada keberkesanan SUHAKAM dalam menjalankan fungsinya.
Berhubung isu yang dibangkitkan oleh Ahli Parlimen mengenai peruntukan belanjawan SUHAKAM semasa sidang Parlimen pada 22 November 2021, SUHAKAM mengulangi seruannya kepada Kerajaan untuk memastikan agar SUHAKAM menerima peruntukan yang mencukupi dan diberikan dengan kuasa-kuasa yang perlu untuk mempromosi dan melindungi hak asasi manusia di Malaysia secara selamat, bebas dan efektif. Baru-baru ini SUHAKAM telah menjalani proses reakreditasi oleh Jawatankuasa Kecil Akreditasi (SCA) Pakatan Global bagi Institusi Hak Asasi Manusia Kebangsaan (GANHRI), di mana SCA mengingatkan bahawa dana yang mencukupi seharusnya pada tahap yang munasabah, dapat memastikan penambahbaikan operasi institusi secara beransur-ansur dan progresif serta membolehkan ia memenuhi mandatnya. Turut dinyatakan bahawa NHRI yang telah diberikan tanggungjawab tambahan oleh Negara, perlu disediakan dengan sumber kewangan tambahan bagi membolehkan ia menjalankan tanggungjawab untuk memenuhi fungsi-fungsi ini. Selain daripada fakta bahawa SUHAKAM kini harus memberi perhatian kepada isu-isu yang lebih luas dan kompleks di negara ini, berasaskan subseksyen 5(2) Akta SUHAKAM 1999 (Akta 597), Kerajaan telah melantik Pesuruhjaya Kanak-kanak sejak April 2019 sebagai sebahagian daripada pembaharuan yang dilaksanakan oleh Kerajaan dalam melindungi hak kanak-kanak. Oleh yang demikian, Kerajaan seharusnya menyediakan segala sokongan yang diperlukan oleh SUHAKAM.
Dalam mempertingkatkan kebebasannya, SUHAKAM bekerjasama rapat dengan Bahagian Hal Ehwal Undang-Undang (BHEUU) Jabatan Perdana Menteri untuk meminda Akta SUHAKAM 1999, antaranya, pindaan peruntukan berkaitan kapasiti SUHAKAM sebagai NHRI yang bebas dan juga Laporan Tahunan SUHAKAM yang mana Seksyen 21 Akta SUHAKAM tidak secara khusus menyatakan bahawa Laporan Tahunan SUHAKAM perlu dibahaskan di Parlimen. SUHAKAM berpendapat bahawa amat penting untuk Ahli Parlimen membincangkan secara kritis, isu-isu hak asasi manusia yang melibatkan kepentingan awam di Malaysia dan mengesyorkan penyelesaian yang bersesuaian terhadap isu-isu ini, terutamanya setelah Putrajaya berikrar untuk mengutamakan hak asasi dalam permohonannya dan seterusnya mendapat pelantikan sebagai ahli kepada Majlis Hak Asasi Manusia (MHAM) di bawah Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu bagi penggal 2022-2021.
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Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
1 Disember 2021
Pertanyaan Media: Sila hubungi Pn. Norashikin Hamzah melalui 03-2612 5687 / 019-621 5336 atau shikin@suhakam.org.my