KUALA LUMPUR (9 JULY 2026) – The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) welcomes the tabling and debate of its 2024 Annual Report in the Dewan Rakyat on 7 and 8 July 2026, with the participation of 36 Members of Parliament who deliberated on a broad range of human rights issues affecting the nation. The debate reflects Parliament’s continuing commitment to ensuring that human rights remain an integral part of Malaysia’s governance and democratic accountability.
SUHAKAM records its sincere appreciation to YB Dato’ Seri Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), for moving the motion to table and debate the Annual Report, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to advancing, protecting and fulfilling human rights in accordance with the Federal Constitution, the rule of law and the public interest. SUHAKAM also expresses its special gratitude to YB Tuan M. Kulasegaran A/L V. Murugeson, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), for concluding the debate and for his unwavering dedication to advancing the human rights agenda for the benefit of all Malaysians.
Throughout the two-day debate, Members of Parliament from both sides of the House demonstrated strong engagement by deliberating on a broad range of human rights concerns and institutional reforms. The key issues raised included:
- Strengthening SUHAKAM’s statutory powers, including enhancing its investigative and monitoring functions, ensuring timely and substantive responses to its recommendations by ministries and agencies, and increasing financial and institutional support to enable the Commission to effectively discharge its mandate.
- Protecting the rights of children and other vulnerable groups, including women, older persons, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples and migrant workers, as well as advancing reforms to the juvenile justice system and broader economic, social and cultural rights.
- Enacting a comprehensive legal and policy framework on refugees.
- Strengthening human rights education and capacity-building through the implementation of ATHAM 2.0, expansion of human rights training modules, and integration of human rights education within the national education system.
- Advancing prison and detention reforms, including improving conditions of detention, addressing deaths in custody, enhancing transparency and accountability, and strengthening rehabilitation, parole and reintegration programmes.
- Protecting the rights and welfare of gig workers, including fair working conditions, occupational safety, social protection, income security and effective dispute resolution mechanisms.
- Addressing issues relating to citizenship, documentation and access to legal identity, particularly for individuals facing barriers to obtaining identity documents and accessing essential public services.
- Strengthening human rights safeguards within drug rehabilitation and treatment programmes by promoting dignity, evidence-based practices and respect for human rights.
- Addressing human rights challenges affecting rural and underserved communities, including equitable access to infrastructure, essential services and sustainable development opportunities.
- Enhancing inter-agency coordination, policy coherence and whole-of-government cooperation in advancing and protecting human rights.
- Promoting stronger collaboration between Parliament, the Government and independent institutions to ensure the effective implementation of human rights commitments and recommendations.
SUHAKAM welcomes the constructive and substantive nature of the debate, which reflects the growing recognition that human rights issues cut across all sectors and require coordinated action by the Government, Parliament and all relevant stakeholders. SUHAKAM emphasises that the Annual Report is an important accountability mechanism that assesses the country’s human rights situation, identifies systemic challenges and offers practical recommendations to strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights. The 2024 Annual Report highlights eleven core areas of focus:
- Institutional reform and strengthening human rights protection
- Rights of children and vulnerable groups.
- Citizenship and statelessness.
- Refugees and migrants.
- Deaths in custody and conditions of detention centres.
- Indigenous Peoples’ rights and customary land.
- Rights of persons with disabilities, women and gender equality.
- Human rights education and awareness.
- Legislative and policy reforms.
- Business and human rights.
- International human rights engagement.
SUHAKAM acknowledges the constructive responses and commitments from various ministries and agencies on pressing human rights matters. SUHAKAM therefore hopes that the concerns, recommendations and proposals raised during the parliamentary debate will be translated into concrete policies, legislative reforms and administrative measures by the relevant ministries and agencies. Meaningful implementation of these recommendations will further strengthen public institutions, enhance accountability and improve the protection of the rights and dignity of everyone in Malaysia. SUHAKAM stands ready to work collaboratively with the Government, Parliament and all stakeholders to monitor progress and advance a human rights-based approach to governance.
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Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
9 July 2026
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