4. OUTREACH PROGRAMMES CHAPTER 2 The Commission continued to reach out to the grass roots community through its outreach programme ‘SUHAKAM Bersama Masyarakat’ (‘Meet-the-People’ sessions), which is a series of roadshows with the aim of raising awareness among the grass roots community regarding the Commission’s functions and work, as well as to provide a platform for them to air their concerns about local human rights issues. Details of the sessions are as follows: i) Penang (13 April) ii) Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor (23 April) iii) Gua Musang, Kelantan (1 September) The Commission also held exhibition booths in conjunction with its roadshows as well as events hosted by other organisations and agencies as listed below: i) Department of Information Malaysia (JPEN) Kuala Lumpur, 5 March ii) MARA University of Technology (UiTM) Sungai Buloh, 31 May–2 June iii) INTI College, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, 16 June iv) University Selangor, 20 July v) Gua Musang, Kelantan, 30 October Public outreach programmes have been an ongoing effort on the part of the Commission. Nevertheless, based on the feedback received from various stakeholders, it was clear that a majority of the public did not have a clear understanding about the nature of the Commission’s functions. Most of them perceived the Commission as an NGO instead of a statutory body established under an Act of Parliament. SUHAKAM Bersama Masyarakat’ roadshow held in Penang on 13 April 84 SUHAKAM ANNUAL REPORT 2016 suhakam 2new.indd 84 3/23/17 5:54 PM