EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum has appointed the Commission the lead institution in a joint project on the rights of indigenous peoples. The Commission prepared a concept paper on the subject. On the home front, the Commission met with the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department in March to discuss the drafting of the National Human Rights Action Plan. REPORT OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHTS COMMITTEE (IPRC) Four main activities were organised to promote the rights of indigenous peoples (IPs), including a seminar on the right of IPs to be involved in decision-making processes, a workshop on the indigenous legal system and fora on indigenous economic development and indigenous education respectively. The IPRC lent a hand with needs in conjunction with the Commission’s pioneer National Inquiry (NI) into the Land Rights of IPs in Malaysia, and kept close watch on developments in the Government’s move to amend the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954. REPORT OF THE SABAH OFFICE In practical terms, the protection of human rights in Sabah revolves around investigation of complaints and education of stakeholders. Toward this end, the Commission’s Office in Kota Kinabalu looked into the 250 complaints it received over the year. The Commission also organised talks and dialogues, five sessions of a Forum and Training on the Indigenous Legal System, and handled the ground work in relation to the NI process in the State. REPORT OF THE SARAWAK OFFICE Apart from handling complaints and conducting field visits in relation to these, the Commission organised eight talks on human rights with the assistance of other agencies to raise awareness of human rights. In addition, assistance was provided in conducting the NI public consultation process in Sarawak. 10