36 SUHAKAM The Way Forward SUHAKAM remains committed and ready to advise and assist the government in terms of ensuring aspects of human rights principles are considered and incorporated in the various laws being reformed, amended or formulated. The government has demonstrated some move towards greater engagement and being more inclusive in taking forward the human rights agenda with the formation of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Gender Equality and Human Rights. In October 2019, the committee was split into two - a Special Select Committee on Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs and a Special Select Committee on Gender Equality and Family Development. SUHAKAM hopes it will have the opportunity to engage with these Select Committees, which function as a check-and-balance mechanism of executive actions and at improving and giving more legitimacy towards government policies. SUHAKAM will continue to advocate for, as well as undertake any necessary action to facilitate Malaysia’s accession to several human rights treaties. SUHAKAM acknowledges there are challenges or a number of barriers towards an actual accession. Hence it has taken the initiative to undertake relevant research on the compatibility of domestic civil and syariah laws with these instruments. SUHAKAM will shortly engage with the respective Ministries on recommendations to overcome various legal or social gaps that are identified, and develop a prospective roadmap which may assist the government in moving forward with the accession.