Monthly Archives: June 2026

KUALA LUMPUR (10 JUNE 2026) – The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) welcomes the statement by Home Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail that the Government is prepared to facilitate further investigations based on the findings and recommendations of SUHAKAM’s Public Inquiry into the incident at Taiping Prison, Perak. The Minister’s assurance that “what is wrong is wrong” and that no wrongdoing will be protected reflects an important commitment to accountability and the rule of law.

The findings of the Public Inquiry revealed serious violations of the human rights of detainees and raised concerns regarding the conduct of certain prison personnel, institutional accountability, and the adequacy of existing safeguards within places of detention. These findings were reached following a comprehensive inquiry process involving witness testimonies, documentary evidence and expert assessments.

In this regard, SUHAKAM hopes that the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will complete its investigations thoroughly, independently and expeditiously, taking into account the findings and evidence presented during the Public Inquiry. Where sufficient evidence exists, appropriate criminal prosecution should be taken against all individuals found to have committed offences, regardless of rank or position.

SUHAKAM further emphasises that accountability should not rest solely with criminal investigations. All relevant agencies, including those responsible for disciplinary oversight, governance, integrity and public service accountability, should undertake the necessary follow-up actions within their respective mandates. Ensuring accountability at every level is essential not only for justice to be served, but also for restoring public confidence in state institutions.

The Commission also welcomes the commitment expressed by the Malaysian Prisons Department to cooperate fully with the relevant authorities and to review the findings and recommendations of the Public Inquiry. Meaningful institutional reform, including the implementation of the Inquiry’s recommendations, is necessary to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

Pursuant to Section 13(3) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999 [Act 597], SUHAKAM will convene an engagement session with the relevant agencies to obtain updates and monitor the status of actions taken in response to the findings and recommendations of the Public Inquiry. The Commission remains committed to ensuring that the recommendations are meaningfully considered and effectively implemented.

The credibility of any justice system is measured not by how it treats the powerful, but by how it treats those under its custody and control. The Commission therefore urges all relevant authorities to act decisively on the findings of the Public Inquiry and demonstrate that human rights violations will neither be tolerated nor ignored.

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Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
10 June 2026

KUALA LUMPUR (9 JUNE 2026) – The Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) welcomes the successful conclusion of the Symposium on Children’s Rights Legislative Reform and commends the commitment demonstrated by policymakers, parliamentarians, government agencies, civil society organisations, academics, and child rights advocates in advancing discussions on strengthening Malaysia’s child protection ecosystem. The symposium provided an important platform to assess Malaysia’s progress in implementing its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), identify persistent gaps in law, policy and implementation, and explore reforms necessary to ensure that every child enjoys their rights without discrimination and in accordance with the principle of the best interests of the child.

As an independent mechanism mandated to promote and protect the rights of children in Malaysia, the OCC monitors the implementation of children’s rights, receives complaints concerning violations of those rights, and advocates for laws, policies and practices that uphold the rights and best interests of every child. The discussions throughout the symposium highlighted that the advancement of children’s rights requires not only strong legal frameworks, but also effective implementation, adequate resources and coordinated institutional responses.

Malaysia has been a State Party to the CRC for more than three decades. Over the years, Malaysia has undertaken important efforts to strengthen child protection through legislative amendments, policy development and the establishment of various child protection mechanisms. These developments reflect Malaysia’s continued commitment towards building a stronger system for children. Nevertheless, the next phase of child rights advancement requires moving beyond the existence of laws towards ensuring their meaningful implementation. The effectiveness of any legal framework ultimately depends on whether the institutions entrusted with protecting children are equipped with sufficient resources, trained personnel, sustainable funding, and operational capacity to deliver protection in practice.

The OCC notes that many contemporary challenges affecting children do not arise solely from legislative gaps, but also from systemic implementation barriers. These include challenges relating to inter-agency coordination, availability of specialised services, human resource constraints among frontline child protection actors, data collection and monitoring mechanisms, and the capacity to translate policies into timely and effective interventions for children. Existing mechanisms established under the Child Act 2001 and related frameworks must therefore be continuously strengthened to ensure that the safeguards envisioned by law are fully realised. A child protection system is only as effective as its ability to reach children when protection is needed. This requires sustained investment in social services, professionalisation of the child protection workforce, evidence-based policymaking and stronger institutional coordination.

At the same time, the OCC recognises that child rights implementation requires meaningful engagement with Malaysia’s social, cultural and community contexts. The universality of children’s rights under the CRC is strengthened when implemented through approaches that acknowledge local realities while preserving shared fundamental values of dignity, protection, non-discrimination, participation and the best interests of the child. Constructive dialogue involving policymakers, communities, religious leaders, civil society organisations, families and children themselves remains essential in ensuring that reforms are both principled and practically sustainable.

The symposium further highlighted several longstanding child rights issues requiring continued attention, including access to protection for vulnerable children, strengthening child-friendly justice systems, safeguarding children’s health and wellbeing, and ensuring that every child is protected from situations of violence, neglect, exploitation and exclusion. Many of these concerns have been consistently raised by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, SUHAKAM, the OCC, civil society organisations and child rights advocates. The symposium has provided an important opportunity to reaffirm the need for a whole-of-society approach in strengthening Malaysia’s child protection ecosystem.

Moving forward, the OCC stands ready to support Members of Parliament, government agencies and other stakeholders through evidence-based recommendations, monitoring, research and engagement with children and communities. Ensuring that children’s voices are heard and considered in decision-making processes remains central to building policies that respond effectively to their lived realities. The OCC emphasises that Malaysia’s continued progress in child rights requires translating commitments into measurable outcomes. Strengthening implementation capacity, ensuring adequate resources and addressing systemic barriers are essential to fulfilling Malaysia’s obligations under the CRC and ensuring that every child can grow up in an environment that respects their dignity, rights and full potential.

The OCC hopes that the recommendations and insights emerging from this symposium will contribute to renewed national commitment towards advancing children’s rights and building a sustainable, inclusive and effective child protection system for all children in Malaysia.

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Office of the Children’s Commissioner
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
9 June 2026

KUALA LUMPUR (3 JUNE 2026) – The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) expresses deep concern over the growing hostility, discriminatory rhetoric, and online attacks directed at the Rohingya community in Malaysia, particularly during the recent Eid al-Adha celebrations.

The circulation of abusive comments and hateful narratives targeting Rohingya refugees during their religious observances is deeply troubling and reflects a dangerous trend of dehumanisation. Such expressions not only undermine the dignity of an already vulnerable community but also erode the values of compassion, empathy, and respect that are fundamental to Malaysian society.

At a time when the world continues to witness grave atrocities against civilian populations, SUHAKAM reiterates that human suffering must not be measured selectively. Genocide is genocide, regardless of where it occurs. The international community has rightly expressed outrage over the devastation and loss of civilian lives in Gaza. That same commitment to human dignity and justice must extend to all peoples facing persecution, including the Rohingya, who have endured decades of systemic discrimination, statelessness, forced displacement, and mass atrocities in Myanmar.

The Rohingya crisis remains one of the most serious humanitarian and human rights challenges in our region. The findings of international bodies, including the fact-finding mission established by the United Nations, have documented acts that may amount to genocide and crimes against humanity against the Rohingya population. These realities must not be forgotten simply because the victims are refugees living among us.

It is also important to distinguish refugees from migrants. Refugees do not leave their homes voluntarily in search of better economic opportunities. They are forced to flee because of persecution, armed conflict, violence, or serious human rights violations in their countries of origin. The Rohingya, in particular, have endured decades of systematic discrimination, statelessness, and targeted violence that have left them with little choice but to seek safety elsewhere.

The overwhelming majority of Rohingya refugees did not come to Malaysia by choice, but out of necessity and survival. Their presence here is a consequence of circumstances beyond their control. For many, Malaysia serves as a place of temporary refuge while they await durable solutions, including voluntary repatriation when conditions are safe and dignified, or resettlement to third countries willing to provide them with long-term protection. Portraying refugees as opportunistic migrants not only misrepresents their lived realities but also obscures the grave human rights violations that forced them to flee in the first place.

Refugees are, first and foremost, human beings. They are mothers, fathers, children, and families who have fled violence, persecution, and fear in search of safety and dignity. Public discourse that portrays them as less deserving of rights, respect, or compassion risks normalising hatred and fostering social division. SUHAKAM calls upon all Malaysians, including public figures, media practitioners, and social media users, to refrain from spreading harmful stereotypes, misinformation, and inflammatory rhetoric against refugees and asylum seekers. Freedom of expression carries responsibilities and should never be used to incite hatred, discrimination, or hostility towards vulnerable communities.

As a member of ASEAN and a country that has long played an important humanitarian role in the region, Malaysia must continue to uphold the principles of humanity, non-discrimination, and respect for human dignity. Addressing legitimate policy concerns relating to refugee management must never come at the expense of fundamental human rights or human decency.

SUHAKAM stands in solidarity with all victims of persecution and violence, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, or legal status. We urge Malaysians to reject hatred and dehumanisation in all forms and to reaffirm our shared commitment to compassion, justice, and the protection of human dignity.

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Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
3 June 2026