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SUHAKAM
SUHAKAM welcomes the appointment of the new Chief Justice of
Malaysia, The Right Honourable Tan Sri Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat,
who expressed her support for continuous engagement with judges
and judicial officers on human rights issues. SUHAKAM would like more
working engagements in terms of reviewing and drafting laws, especially
those concerning human rights, and ideally from the early stages of any
legislative process.
Since 2016, SUHAKAM has advocated for the establishment of a Custodial
Medical Unit (CMU), which will operate as a mobile clinic and manned by
trained medical staff on site. As a result of positive engagement with the
Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the CMU programme is expected to be
established at five centralised lockups in early 2020. In addition, SUHAKAM
also collaborated with the Prisons Policy Division to undertake a thorough
review and reform of the prison management system, policies and
practices, including compliance with minimum standards of detention
following international standards such as the Nelson Mandela Rules.
SUHAKAM completed its Public Inquiry (PI) into the disappearance of
Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat, in December 2018. Following
the announcement and release of the PI report, the Ministry of Home
Affairs proceeded to form a Special Task Force to Investigate the
disappearance of both individuals.
On 14 March 2019, Malaysia’s Working Group Report for the Third
UPR was considered and adopted at the 40th Regular Session of the
Human Rights Council. Of the 268 recommendations, Malaysia fully
accepted 147 recommendations, partially accepted 37 and noted
the remaining 84 recommendations. Having accepted all of the 11 UPR
recommendations on People with Disabilities, the community anticipates
these shall be translated into reality soon, especially on access to
education, healthcare and more disabled-friendly facilities.
The main issues in Sabah relate to land matters, citizenship, and
identification and/or personal legal documents. SUHAKAM has made
recommendations to the authorities and sought to identify best possible
solutions for various complaints received, as well as advocating for
policy improvements generally. As part of SUHAKAM’s effort to find
permanent solutions on statelessness, SUHAKAM signed a Memorandum
of Understanding with Komnas HAM (Indonesian National Human Rights
Institution) in April, which will enable the two NHRIs to assist each other
across national borders.