Chapter 2 - Report of the Complaints, Monitoring and Inquiries Group (b) Setting up a Working Group of Alternatives to Detention The Commission and several civil society organisations, in endeavouring to address the issue of children in immigration detention, have been exploring various options for alternatives to detention and looking at best practices in other countries. The Commission presented the proposal to the Minister of Home Affairs who supported the initiative and requested the Commission to work with the Department of Immigration. Subsequently, a working group was formed to study and make recommendations with respect to various ATD models. The members of the working group are the Department of Immigration, the Commission, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Department of Social Welfare and civil society groups. The working group has agreed to initiate a pilot project where unaccompanied minors/children will be the priority. Children with parents and guardians will not be the focus at this stage due to the detention status of their parents. The current focus is also limited to children in IDCs in Peninsular Malaysia. 4. WATCHING BRIEF The Commission, through its Complaints, Monitoring and Inquiries Group, held watching briefs in several cases involving the rights of the child and freedom of speech and expression. Table 6: Summary of Watching Briefs by the Commission WATCHING BRIEFS ISSUES LOCATION Navin v Government of Malaysia Citizenship – Rights of the child High Court (Kuala Lumpur) DPP v Azmi Sharom Freedom of expression – Freedom of speech – Sedition Act - Academic freedom – UDHR Sessions Court (Kuala Lumpur) DPP v Abdullah Zaik Freedom of expression – Freedom of speech – Sedition Act – UDHR Sessions Court (Kajang) 5. MONITORING OF ACTIVITIES The Commission monitored four public gatherings – May Day, ‘Hentikan Rogol: Aku Kisah’, a protest against mega dams and ‘Walk for Peace and Freedom’. While May Day was held at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, and Walk for Peace and Freedom was held in front of Parliament, the other two assemblies took place at SOGO KL and KLCC respectively. 51