Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)is an independent organisation which investigates complaints for the violation of human rights. Human rights is the fundamental rights of each person, regardless of heritage, race, skin color, religion, political views, believes or where we live.
KUALA LUMPUR (23 JUN 2025) – Pesuruhjaya Kanak-Kanak (PK) Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM), memandang serius penyebaran kandungan melibatkan kanak-kanak perempuan oleh sebuah laman Facebook bertajuk ‘Grup Budak-budak Sekolah Rendah’, yang kemudiannya mencetuskan komen-komen berunsur seksual dan lucah oleh pengguna media sosial. Tindakan tersebut bukan sahaja tidak bermoral, tetapi boleh disifatkan sebagai satu bentuk eksploitasi kanak-kanak di ruang digital.
PK memuji tindakan pempengaruh media sosial, Wee Yun Nee atau Mekyun, yang telah membuat laporan polis bagi menuntut siasatan terhadap komen-komen yang menjijikkan dan berunsur gangguan seksual terhadap kanak-kanak. Tindakan ini wajar dijadikan contoh tanggungjawab sivik dalam menangani jenayah seksual dalam talian.
PK ingin menegaskan bahawa kanak-kanak berhak untuk hidup dan berkembang dalam persekitaran yang selamat, termasuk di alam maya. Sebagaimana termaktub dalam Konvensyen Mengenai Hak Kanak-Kanak Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (UNCRC), khususnya Artikel 34, negara wajib melindungi kanak-kanak daripada semua bentuk eksploitasi seksual dan penderaan seksual. Ini termasuk langkah-langkah yang sewajarnya untuk mencegah seorang kanak-kanak untuk mengambil bahagian atau diperguna secara paksa dalam sebarang aktiviti seksual, mengeksploitasi kanak-kanak untuk pelacuran atau amalan seksual lain, serta eksploitasi kanak-kanak dalam bahan lucah atau pornografi. Malaysia sebagai parti kepada UNCRC mempunyai obligasi moral dan undang-undang untuk memastikan bahawa sebarang bentuk eksploitasi seksual terhadap kanak-kanak, termasuk di alam maya, dicegah dan ditangani secara tegas.
Pendedahan kanak-kanak kepada kandungan atau komen yang menjurus kepada seksualisasi adalah pelanggaran serius terhadap hak asasi mereka, dan boleh disiasat di bawah:
• Seksyen 10, Akta Kesalahan-Kesalahan Seksual Terhadap Kanak-Kanak 2017, berkenaan mengakses bahan penganiayaan seksual kanak-kanak, yang mana pelaku boleh dipenjarakan selama tempoh tidak melebihi lima tahun atau didenda tidak melebihi sepuluh ribu ringgit atau kedua-duanya;
• Seksyen 211, Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia 1998, berkaitan larangan terhadap pemberian kandungan jelik, yang mana pelaku boleh didenda tidak melebihi lima puluh ribu ringgit atau dipenjarakan selama tempoh tidak melebihi satu tahun atau kedua-duanya sekali; dan
• Seksyen 292, Kanun Keseksaan, bagi kesalahan penyebaran kandungan lucah, yang mana pelaku boleh dihukum dengan pemenjaraan selama tempoh yang boleh sampai tiga tahun atau dengan denda atau dengan kedua-duanya sekali.
Oleh itu, PK menggesa Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) untuk menjalankan siasatan terperinci terhadap semua pihak yang terbabit, termasuk pentadbir laman Facebook tersebut dan pengguna yang telah memberikan komen-komen bersifat gangguan seksual terhadap kanak-kanak.
PK turut menyeru Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (SKMM) untuk bertindak lebih tegas dan proaktif dalam memantau, menyekat serta mengambil tindakan ke atas akaun dan kandungan yang menyumbang kepada budaya seksualisasi kanak-kanak. SKKM juga hendaklah menguatkuasakan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Talian 2025 terhadap pemberi perkhidmatan aplikasi, dalam kes ini, iaitu, Facebook (“Pemberi Perkhidmatan”), supaya Pemberi Perkhidmatan mewujudkan mekanisme untuk melindungi keselamatan dalam talian pengguna kanak-kanak supaya apa-apa kandungan berupa bahan penganiayaan seksual kanak-kanak tidak dapat diakses oleh penggunanya.
Akhir sekali, PK CC mengingatkan bahawa perlindungan terhadap kanak-kanak termasuk di alam maya merupakan suatu tanggungjawab kolektif. Ibu bapa, pendidik, pengendali platform digital, pembuat dasar dan masyarakat keseluruhan perlu berganding bahu memastikan ruang digital negara ini bebas daripada eksploitasi, gangguan, dan penyalahgunaan terhadap kanak-kanak. Semua pihak digesa untuk lebih peka dan bertindak segera apabila berhadapan dengan kandungan yang mencurigakan atau berpotensi menjatuhkan maruah kanak-kanak.
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Dr Farah Nini Dusuki
Pesuruhjaya Kanak Kanak
23 JUN 2025
KUALA LUMPUR (18 JUNE 2025) The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) remains deeply concerned over the unresolved issues surrounding the death of Teoh Beng Hock, who died while in the custody of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on 16 July 2009. In particular, the Attorney General’s decision to classify the case as “NFA” (“No further Action”).
Teoh was found dead on July 16 2009 after falling from the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, after being questioned overnight for several hours by officers at the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters.
Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution guarantees that “No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty save in accordance with the law.” This constitutional provision enshrines the fundamental right to life and liberty and obliges the State and its agencies to ensure that this right is always protected, particularly, when an individual is under the care or custody of the State.
In 2014, the Court of Appeal unanimously overturned the Coroner’s Court’s open verdict, concluding that Teoh Beng Hock’s death was not due to suicide. The judgment clearly stated that “a person or persons were responsible for his death.” However, and unfortunately, despite the Court of Appeals clear ruling over a decade ago, no known criminal prosecution or disciplinary action has taken place, highlighting a serious gap in enforcement and institutional accountability.
More than 16 years after the tragic incident, justice for Teoh Beng Hock and his family remains elusive. SUHAKAM reiterates that the right to life under Article 5 not only protects individuals from arbitrary deprivation of life but also imposes a positive obligation on the State to investigate all custodial deaths thoroughly, independently, and effectively and to hold perpetrators accountable. Failure to do so constitutes a violation of both domestic constitutional obligations and Malaysia’s international human rights commitments.
SUHAKAM stands in solidarity with the family of Teoh Beng Hock and other parties who are demanding accountability and transparency. We earnestly call upon the AGC and PDRM to review their “NFA” decision and to take the necessary criminal proceedings against the officers responsible for Teoh Beng Hock’s death. In the event that the AGC and PDRM were still to insist that this is a case for NFA, then, good governance mandates that they must be transparent and must disclose the full details of the police investigation and explain why the MACC officers implicated in the case have not been held accountable. Teoh Beng Hock’s tragic and untimely death remains a stark reminder of the critical need to uphold human rights, the rule of law, and institutional accountability in Malaysia.
In this regard, SUHAKAM recalls the Méndez Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering, which emphasise non-coercive, science-based, and rights-compliant methods of questioning. The Mendez Principles reject the use of intimidation or coercion during interrogations and stress the importance of procedural safeguards, such as access to legal counsel, the right to remain silent, and audio-visual recording of interviews. Adopting these standards is essential to prevent abuses and ensure the dignity and safety of all individuals in custody.
SUHAKAM strongly urges the Government to take the long-overdue step of acceding to the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), as a clear manifestation of Malaysia’s commitment to ending torture, upholding human dignity, and strengthening institutional integrity.
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The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
Date: 18 JUNE 2025
KUALA LUMPUR (13 JUNE 2025) – The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) views with grave concern the recent incident involving the imposition of a travel ban on activist Fahmi Reza. The imposition was without prior notice, legal basis or adequate justification. Such action constitutes a violation of his constitutional right to freedom of movement as enshrined in Article 9 of the Federal Constitution and raises serious questions about compliance with due process and the principles of natural justice. The absence of clear legal procedures and transparency in the enforcement of travel restrictions represents a significant encroachment upon civil liberties and sets a troubling precedent for arbitrary state action.
Although both the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Director-General of Immigration have since clarified that there was no official international travel restriction imposed on Fahmi Reza, the fact that he was barred from leaving the country highlights serious flaws in the communication mechanism between these two enforcement agencies. It is unsettling that until today neither of these Departments has publicly apologised to Fahmi Reza.
This incident reflects the pressing need for improved coordination among enforcement agencies, particularly between the police and immigration departments. The lack in clarity of communication between these agencies often results in miscommunication, confusion and injustice. SUHAKAM recommends the establishment of a clear, streamlined information-sharing protocol to enable timely and transparent decisions that uphold the constitutional and legal rights of individuals. The law must never be arbitrary or oppressive in nature.
However, a more important concern is that the imposition of travel bans without due process contravenes the right to freedom of movement, a human and fundamental right firmly protected under both our Federal Constitution and international law.
Bearing in mind Fahmi Reza’s activities as a cartoonist and satirist, this brings us to another crucial issue. Article 10 guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression. As a cartoonist and satirist, Fahmi Reza has been a human rights activist exercising his political views through artistic expressions as well as through satirical form of expressions. Such activities are protected by the Constitution and must be respected in a democratic society that upholds the Rule of Law.
Article 13(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that “Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own and to return to his country”. Travel restrictions must therefore be imposed proportionately within a constitutional and legal framework and individuals subjected to such bans must be promptly informed, given the opportunity to challenge the decision and provided access to an independent review mechanism. Travel restrictions that are seemingly linked to his political expressions may therefore constitute an unlawful limitation of his constitutional and human rights.
Fahmi Reza’s unfortunate incident must serve as a critical reminder of the importance of respecting and safeguarding fundamental liberties through clear procedures, accountable governance, and a steadfast commitment to human dignity. Such incident is not in consonance with good governance.
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The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
Date: 13 June 2025
KUALA LUMPUR (5 JUNE 2025) – The Children’s Commissioner (CC) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM, expresses deep sadness and concern over the tragic death of a seven-year-old girl who fell from the 29th floor of a condominium in Puchong, Subang Jaya, on 21 May 2025. This devastating incident occurred just four days after a two-year-old boy was found dead after falling from the 7th floor of an apartment in Precinct 9, Putrajaya.
These back-to-back tragedies are not isolated accidents. They are preventable deaths that starkly expose the failure to implement essential safety measures in high-rise residential buildings. These children did not have to die. Their loss is a direct consequence of a systemic failure to prioritize child safety where it matters most: at home.
As a State Party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Malaysia is duty-bound to protect every child’s right to life, development, and protection from foreseeable harm. A safe home environment is not a luxury. Providing a safe home environment is a legal and moral obligation.
The CC urges the Government (Federal and States) and relevant stakeholders to take urgent action by implementing the following measures to prevent further tragedies:
1. Legislation and Safety Regulations
The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) should enact specific laws to enhance child safety in high-rise residential buildings. This includes making it mandatory for all apartment and flat units, including rental units, to be equipped with safety grilles or protective mesh on windows and balconies. Additionally, minimum safety design standards for child-friendly high-rise units must be established under existing building laws or regulations.
2. Mandatory Child-Safety Design Standards
KPKT and local authorities (PBT) must review current building design guidelines to ensure child safety considerations are integrated as mandatory requirements in all high-rise residential developments.
3. Public Awareness and Education Campaigns
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Joint Management Bodies (JMBs) and Management Bodies/Corporations of all high-rise buildings should spearhead public awareness campaigns on home safety, targeting parents, caregivers, and communities. These educational efforts should be incorporated into community health programmes and disseminated through health visitors, particularly, to households with young children.
4. Regular and Strict Compliance Inspections
PBT must conduct regular inspections of high-rise residential units, especially rental properties, to ensure compliance with child safety standards and features.
These deaths were not accidents—they were preventable. The absence of basic safety features in high-rise homes directly contributed to the loss of these young lives. This is unacceptable in any society that claims to uphold children’s rights.
SUHAKAM calls upon all actors—Federal and State Governments, local authorities, developers, JMBs, Management Bodies/Corporations and communities—to take immediate and unified action. Homes must not be high-risk zones for children; they must be places of safety, protection, and dignity.
To all parents, while we push for reforms to take place, in the meantime, vigilance is key. If you live in a high-rise residence, never leave young children unattended, and ensure safety measures are installed. Let us do all we can to prevent further loss of innocent lives.
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Dr Farah Nini Dusuki
Children’s Commissioner
5 JUNE 2025
KUALA LUMPUR (4 JUNE 2025) – On 13th May 2025, the family of the late J. Soosaimanicckam submitted a memorandum to the Attorney General Chambers (AGC), urging the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to investigate into the death of the late J. Soosaimanicckam. The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) expresses deep concern over the prolonged delay in the pursuit of justice for the late naval cadet J. Soosaimanicckam, who tragically lost his life during a training session in 2017. In July 2024, the Ipoh High Court classified his death as homicide. The High Court had ruled that the death was a result of navy officers denying him medical treatment for leptospirosis. In the light of the High Court ruling, it is imperative that the PDRM expedites its investigation and ensures those responsible are held accountable under the law.
19th May 2025 commemorates seven years since the passing of the late J. Soosaimanicckam. The fact that seven years have passed without resolution is a serious indictment of the justice system’s ability to protect the rights of victims and their families against criminal wrongdoings. Justice delayed is denied justice. In this case, prolonged inaction undermines public trust in state institutions, particularly, law enforcement agencies.
As mandated by its role, SUHAKAM had been holding watching briefs in this case, and has been actively monitoring the case since 2018. Whilst we recognize the complexity of cases involving state actors, SUHAKAM stresses that no institution should be immune from scrutiny when there is credible evidence of rights violations.
This case is not only a matter of justice for one family but a testament to the broader principles enshrined in the Federal Constitution. Article 5(1) guarantees that “No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty save in accordance with law”. The tragic and preventable death of J. Soosaimanicckam, coupled with institutional inaction, amounts to a failure to uphold this fundamental right.
The case also implicates international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Article 3 of the UDHR guarantees the right to life, liberty and security of person. Article 8 of the same ensures that everyone has the right to an effective remedy by competent national tribunals for acts violating fundamental rights granted by the constitution or by law. The prolonged delay in investigation contravenes these human rights principles.
SUHAKAM urges the PDRM and the AGC to act with urgency, impartiality, and transparency. The family of the late J. Soosaimanicckam deserves justice and closure, and the public deserves assurance that all deaths in custody or under state supervision are properly investigated and those responsible are held accountable.
SUHAKAM further calls for a clear timeline for the investigation and prosecution processes. There must be regular updates to be communicated to the family, and independent oversight to ensure the integrity of the investigation. SUHAKAM remains committed to upholding justice, transparency, and human rights and will continue to monitor the developments of this case closely.
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The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
Date: 4 June 2025
KUALA LUMPUR (3 June 2025) – SUHAKAM is urgently calling upon the Government to develop and implement a comprehensive national action plan, alongside explicit constitutional recognition, to safeguard the rights of the Indigenous Peoples. These communities have for decades endured systemic neglect, marginalisation, and violations of their fundamental rights, particularly concerning land, identity, and socio-economic inclusion.
As a core recommendation, SUHAKAM reiterates its calls for the establishment of an Independent National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, in line with Recommendation 18 of the National Inquiry into the Land Rights of Indigenous Peoples (National Inquiry). This proposed Commission must be empowered to advise the Government on laws and policies relating to Indigenous Peoples. In addition, this Commission, as recommended, must propose and monitor sustainable development programmes on Indigenous Peoples’ land; promote participation of Indigenous Peoples at all levels; and conduct research on issues related to the well-being of Indigenous Peoples. The Commission must be composed predominantly of representatives from indigenous communities, selected through transparent consultation and with the endorsement of Indigenous Peoples across Malaysia. This will ensure that the Commission reflects the voices and aspirations of the communities it is meant to serve and affirms the principle of self-determination.
Simultaneously, SUHAKAM reiterates the urgent need for a comprehensive and independent review of the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 and the Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli (JAKOA), as outlined in Recommendation 14 of the National Inquiry, transforming the JAKOA into a rights-based institution that can provide effective support and protection to the Orang Asli. As the primary federal agency addressing Orang Asli affairs, JAKOA must be reformed to respond to contemporary human rights needs, and not merely to deliver welfare.
As part of the broader constitutional reform agenda, SUHAKAM calls for the amendment of Article 153 of the Federal Constitution to explicitly recognise the Orang Asli as being entitled to the same constitutional safeguards and affirmative action measures afforded to other indigenous communities in Malaysia, that is to say, the Malays and the Natives of Sabah and Sarawak. This recognition is vital in ensuring that the rights, identities, and entitlements of the Orang Asli are no longer subject to administrative ambiguity or exclusion.
Despite the Government’s acceptance of 17 out of 18 recommendations of the SUHAKAM’s landmark National Inquiry, implementation has remained slow and fragmented. SUHAKAM, therefore, calls for the immediate revival of the Special Cabinet Committee on Indigenous Rights, with specific timelines for implementation, progress monitoring, and periodic public reporting.
SUHAKAM also highlights the critical need to harmonise Federal and State policies, especially regarding the gazettement and legal protection of ancestral and customary lands. The lack of harmonisation of policies has placed indigenous communities in precarious conditions, with frequent reports of displacements, loss of livelihoods, and prolonged disputes. The Federal and State
Governments, as custodians of the Indigenous Peoples’ lands and natural resources, have a solemn responsibility to ensure that the Indigenous Peoples have their land rights protected through clear, consistent, and enforceable policies. This obligation is consistent with Article 8(2) of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which calls on States to prevent and provide redress for actions aimed at dispossessing Indigenous Peoples of their lands, territories, or resources.
The Government of Malaysia must act as the guardian of the Indigenous Peoples by aligning national laws with international human rights instruments, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the International Labour Organization Convention No. 169, both of which affirm the right of Indigenous Peoples to free, prior, informed consent (FPIC), the preservation of their cultures, lands, and institutions.
Finally, SUHAKAM insists that any legislation, policy or programme undertaken must include the direct and meaningful participation of indigenous communities and civil society actors. Without their inputs, any reforms-initiated risk being ineffective or rejected by the very communities they are intended to serve.
SUHAKAM remains committed to engaging with all relevant stakeholders to advance the recommendations of the National Inquiry and to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of the Indigenous Peoples in Malaysia.
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The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)Date: 3 June 2025
KUALA LUMPUR (23 MEI 2025) – Berdasarkan kuasa di bawah Akta Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia 1999 (Akta 597), Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM) akan menjalankan siasatan awam terhadap dakwaan pencabulan hak asasi manusia berhubung insiden 17 Januari 2025 di Penjara Taiping, Perak, yang membawa kepada kematian seorang banduan yang berada dalam tahanan.
Siasatan itu bertujuan mengesahkan jika ada terdapat sebarang pelanggaran hak asasi manusia berkaitan insiden tersebut selain tujuan berikut:
(i) untuk mengenal pasti jenis dan sejauh mana pelanggaran berlaku.
(ii) untuk mengkaji bagaimana dan mengapa pelanggaran tersebut berlaku.
(iii) untuk menentukan pihak yang bertanggungjawab terhadap pelanggaran
(iv) untuk mengenalpasti lagkah pencegahan untuk mengelakkan kejadian serupa berulang
Berikut merupakan barisan panel siasatan:
(i) Dato’ Seri Hishamudin Yunus – Pengerusi SUHAKAM merangkap Pengerusi panel siasatan.
(ii) Datuk Mariati Robert – Pesuruhjaya SUHAKAM
(iii) Dr Farah Nini Dusuki – Pesuruhjaya SUHAKAM
Perbicaraan awam itu akan diadakan di Pusat Koreksional Kamunting (KEMTA), Kamunting, Perak, dan dijadualkan berlangsung dalam dua fasa: dari 9 hingga 12 Jun 2025 dan dari 23 hingga 26 Jun 2025. Tarikh tambahan akan diumumkan sekiranya panel merasakan adanya keperluan untuk berbuat demikian.
Orang ramai dan media yang ingin menghadiri prosiding adalah dialu-alukan dengan mengisi pautan pra-pendaftaran di Kod QR berikut:
Untuk sebarang pertanyaan, boleh hubungi Puan Norashikin Hamzah, bahagian Media dan Promosi di Alamat emel shikin@suhakam.org.my atau 019-6215336 dan Encik Safrizaman Mohammad at safrizaman@suhakam.org.my
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The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
Date: 23 MAY 2025
MS 
EN