CH A PT E R 1 The main outcome was that MWFCD would prepare a paper for the development of a new bill on older persons and table it to the National Advisory and Consultative Council of Older Persons for approval. Once approved, the MWFCD would proceed with the drafting of the bill. SUHAKAM fully supports the development of the said Bill which will enhance protection for older persons in Malaysia and ensure that their basic rights are upheld. 5. Security Laws Following the change in government after May 9, 2018, SUHAKAM was invited to be part of a special committee to review various laws relating to security as well as the mandatory death penalty, under the purview of Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA). During the meetings, SUHAKAM reiterated its stand that there must be an appropriate balance in the use of security laws to protect the nation from security threats, on the one hand, and the maintenance of fundamental human rights and freedoms on the other hand. 6. Anti-Death Penalty Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF)’s Project on the Abolition of the Death Penalty SUHAKAM, along with its partners, have been consistently advocating for the abolition of the death penalty in Malaysia. In 2017, SUHAKAM was successful in its bid for the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF)’s Project on the Abolition of the Death Penalty. The aim of the Project was to strengthen the capacity of national human rights institutions (NHRIs), especially those located in a State which still retains the death penalty, and to promote the abolition of the death penalty. For the purpose of the project, SUHAKAM met with some of the most prominent Islamic scholars and other religious in 2017 and early 2018 to explain about the abolition of the death penalty and gauge their reactions to the issue. Based on the meetings, SUHAKAM observed that they were supportive of SUHAKAM’s efforts to abolish the death penalty. At the same time, SUHAKAM had also organised a workshop on the death penalty for university students at the University of Selangor (UNISEL) and Sultan Idris University of Education (UPSI) in November and December 2017 respectively. From the workshops, it was observed that after the presentation by SUHAKAM, some of the students changed their mindset – instead of retaining the death penalty, some of them were of the view that the abolition of the death penalty should be carried out in stages. SUHAKAM ANNUAL REPORT 2018 63