as the practice of institutional racism that is reinforced in entry policies. I wish to point out that racist policies are not in keeping with the spirit of the Federal Constitution. Malaysia continues to make enviable strides in achieving economic growth towards becoming a high-income and developed nation by 2020. Malaysia continues to make enviable But what is needed at the strides in achieving economic growth towards becoming a high-income and same time is an equal level of developed nation by 2020. But what is progress in the promotion and needed at the same time is an equal protection of human rights. level of progress in the promotion and protection of human rights. Economic growth must be achieved in a manner consistent with human rights values as the fundamentals of human rights are the dignity and the worth of every human being. This in my view means putting people at the centre of economic development. Sadly, the Orang Asli of Malaysia remain marginalised and under constant threat, being progressively forced out of their ancestral lands, still lacking the basic right to education and excluded from decision making in matters that directly affect them. To date, SUHAKAM’s recommendations following its National Inquiry on the Land Rights of Indigenous Peoples concluded in 2012 have remained dormant. I find the assurance that the recommendations will be fully implemented after a research on the concept of customary land rights unconvincing. Why is there a hesitation to improve the quality of life of our indigenous? The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) proclaims political, economic and sosial rights. As the National Human Rights Commission, SUHAKAM has been an insistent voice in denouncing the excuses of the authorities to recognise and give full effect to the promotion and protection of political freedoms. Discussions on the rule of law, good governance, accountability and democracy will for sure dominate in the run up to the imminent 14 th General Election. This year, SUHAKAM and the Kofi Annan Foundation hosted a regional conference on ‘Democracy in Southeast Asia’, bringing together a number of former leaders from around the world to accelerate discussions on electoral integrity reform and the state of democracy in the region. SUHAKAM is conscious of the many challenges still faced to the complete independence of rule of law institutions. We are concerned that activists, politicians, as well as journalists critical of the viii S UH A KA M A N N UA L R E P O R T 2 0 1 7