Suhakam Report Finally Debated In Parliament After 19 Years

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PARLIAMENT | A Suhakam report, which was heard for the first time since its inception 19 years ago, was passed by the Dewan Rakyat today
The Suhakam 2018 annual report was tabled on April 11 this year. Reports from the human rights commission have never been debated in Parliament. However, about 12 MPs took part in today's debate where they raised their concerns over various issues on human rights including human trafficking, child marriage, immigration detention involving children, citizenship to children, and custom lands
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong (photo), in addressing the concerns and suggestions by the MPs, vowed that the government will look into each point to ensure human rights are guaranteed and preserved

"I will take all suggestions and concerns raised to help the government and ensure human rights are guaranteed and preserved, " Liew, who is also Batu Sapi MP, said
P Kasthuriraani (PH-Batu Kawan) urged that the human rights body be given unlimited access to visit prisons, immigration centres, and national anti-drug agency's rehabilitation centres, while Zairil Khir Johari (PH-Bukit Bendera) highlighted the issue with children detained in the immigration depots
Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang) said the government should implement a key performance indicator system to ensure suggestions during the debate were executed to prevent today's session from being just a "lip service"
Liew disagreed with the word "lip service" mentioned by Azalina
"The accusation that this is just a lip service is wrong. If compared with the previous government, they did not have the political will to present the report," he said. "But today is historical. We are one step ahead to ensure human rights are protected."In the past, when the government had ignored Suhakam's findings and recommendations, critics panned the commission as a "toothless tiger"
Four years ago, Suhakam's then chairperson, Hasmy Agam, had said the commission was worse than a toothless tiger
“A tiger is a tiger. Before it opens its mouth to show it has no teeth, you are already scared looking at it," he said. "From my perspective, Suhakam is a watchdog that is tied to a post."  - Mkini

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