ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Suspending the deportation of detainees for a long period can affect their physical and mental health. This action may lead to a violation of their human rights, clearly stated in Article 9, 10 and 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 (UDHR)2. The maxim “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied” can be applied here. The suspension has also raised the cost to the government in holding detainees. The Malaysian Immigration Department and PDRM are advised to come out with a better mechanism and improve their communication in order to ensure that detentions ate not prolonged unnecessarily. 10. FORENSICS SEMINAR 2019 1. This seminar is an annual event conducted by the Complaints and Monitoring Division (CMD) to create awareness of the rights of detainees and reduce the number of custodial deaths nationwide. The valuable knowledge from this seminar serves as one of the continuous efforts by SUHAKAM to improve the conditions in detention centres and enhance the role of the authorities and agencies when investigating custodial deaths. 2. This year, SUHAKAM had the honour of inviting Dr. Joseph Andrew D. Jiminez, Medico-Legal Officer IV, Forensics Division, Investigation Office, Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP), to share the Philippines’ experience in investigating human rights violations. Common knowledge on investigations conducted by national human rights institutions (NHRIs) was shared during the session. He 2 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 (UDHR): (i)Article 9 – No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile; (ii)Article 10 – Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him; (iii) Article 11 – Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence. CHAPTER 1 because of pending police investigations. Some of these detainees have been detained for over two years. The Immigration Depot informed SUHAKAM that PDRM did not provide them feedback on the status of the investigations. Among the affected depots are Belantik Immigration Depot with 50 detainees up to April 2019 and Machap Umboo Depot with 131 detainees until June 30, 2019. 69