Chapter 1 – Report of the Policy, Law and Complaints Group The responses to the proposed amendments were not favourable – nearly all of the proposed amendments were rejected by the stakeholders Dato’ Azailiza Mohd Ahad, Solicitor General, Attorney General’s Chambers; Dato’ Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim, Deputy Inspector General of Police; and Dato’ Nursiah Arshad, Director General of BHEUU, on 3 August 2015 at the BHEUU’s office in Putrajaya. The meeting was co-chaired by YB Puan Hajah Nancy Shukri and YB Senator Dato’ Paul Low, Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department. The Commission reiterated its previous proposed amendments on matters which included the Commission’s mandate to visit places of detention without prior notice; the selection and terms of appointment of Commissioners; whether to appoint full-time or part-time Commissioners; the Commission’s power to intervene in court cases and to undertake mediation; the debate of the Commission’s report in Parliament; and consultation with the Commission on the formulation and amendment of laws. In addition to the recommendations made previously, the Commission further recommended that adequate funds should be approved by Parliament after reviewing the Commission’s annual budget proposal; that a new section enumerating the Commission’s right to appear as Amicus Curiae should be introduced; and that the power to remove the Chairman from office under section 10(c)6 should only be exercised by the “Chief Secretary to the Government as the Chair of the Select Committee”. The responses given by the Ministers and Government agencies with regard to the proposed amendments were not favourable – nearly all the proposed amendments were rejected by the stakeholders. However, it was indicated that the proposal to amend section 10(c) to replace “Minister” with the “Chief Secretary to Government as the Chair of the Select Committee” would be considered. As a consolation, it was agreed during the meeting for the relevant agencies to hold separate discussions with the Commission to discuss alternative or administrative arrangements to enable the Commission to carry out its mandate more effectively. The Commission is not disheartened by this setback and will continue to pursue this matter, as the Commission is of the opinion that these amendments are pivotal to increasing the 6 Section 10. A member of the Commission may be removed from office by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong if –(c) the member absent himself from three consecutive meetings of the Commission without obtaining leave of the Commission or, in the case of the Chairman, without leave of the Minister. 55 BOOK-ANR2016-01-latest.indb 55 08/04/2016 3:32 PM