practices that are not in line with the principles under the Convention as well as other international human rights treaties. 2. Background SUHAKAM was established in 1999. One of the core functions of SUHAKAM is to recommend to the Government with regard to the subscription or accession to treaties and other international instruments in the field of human rights. This specific task is entrusted to the Law Reform and International Treaties Working Group, now renamed the Research Sub Group. In fulfilment of the above function, SUHAKAM continuously takes the necessary efforts in urging the Government to accede to the CAT as well as all the other core international human rights treaties that Malaysia is yet a party to, while ensuring that the Government complies with the human rights treaties that have been acceded to or ratified. It is important that the findings at the RTD are conveyed to the relevant Government bodies, particularly the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, and the religious authorities, to emphasise the need to accede to the CAT, as it is foreseeable that these bodies will play not only a key role in any efforts to accede to the Convention, but will be the main players upon accession. 3. Chairman’s Opening Remarks In his opening remarks, Tan Sri Hasmy Agam, the Chairman of SUHAKAM, welcomed the participants and Dr. Silvia Casale, and expressed his appreciation for her willingness to facilitate the sessions in the RTD. The Chairman reiterated SUHAKAM’s recommendation, made since its establishment, for the Government to accede to the CAT, and highlighted the importance of adherence to article 5 of the Federal Constitution which states, “no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty, save in accordance with the law”, given its relevance to the abolition of torture. The Chairman expressed SUHAKAM’s concerns over media reports and complaints that the Commission had received on brutality in custody, mistreatment of detainees, coerced interrogations, and other forms of human rights violations occurring at the hands of officials, and stated the urgent need for the Government to address these abuses. 2