Chapter 2 - Report of the Complaints, Monitoring and Inquiries Group Table 9: NI Discussions, 2013 NO. REGION DATE VENUE 1. Sabah 5 & 6 March Hotel Promenade, Kota Kinabalu 2. Peninsular Malaysia 19 & 20 March Dewan Kadaram, Kuala Lumpur 3. Sarawak 9 & 10 April Hotel Hilton, Kuching Representatives of the Inquiries Division attended two meetings with the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development to discuss the findings and recommendations of the NI Report. The sessions were aimed at eliciting cooperation for the implementation of the recommendations by the Federal Government and relevant State Governments. The first meeting was held on 16 July with senior officials of the Ministry and the Orang Asli Development Department of Malaysia (JAKOA). The second meeting, on 19 July, was chaired by Rural and Regional Development Minister, YBhg Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Haji Apdal. Both meetings were fruitful, leading to the Commission being invited to present the NI findings and recommendations to the relevant government departments. (a) Public Release of the NI Report The NI Report which was completed in April was released on 5 August, unavoidably later than scheduled. Given the importance of the findings and recommendations of the NI to the well-being of Indigenous Peoples (IP), the Commission felt it necessary to first submit the Report to Parliament, State Legislative Assemblies, the Federal Government and relevant State Governments, so as to allow elected representatives and policy makers to deliberate on the issues and recommendations. The decision was made pursuant to section 21(3) of the Commission’s founding Act which provides that it may ‘whenever it considers it necessary to do so, submit special reports to Parliament in respect of any particular matter or matters referred to it, and the action taken in respect thereof’. However, the dissolution of Parliament for the 13th General Election coincided with the completion of the NI Report. This compelled the Commission to postpone the launch until the new session of Parliament was convened. Given the importance of the findings and recommendations of the NI to the well-being of Indigenous Peoples, the Commission felt it necessary to first submit the Report to Parliament, State Legislative Assemblies, the Federal Government and relevant State Governments, so as to allow elected representatives and policy makers to deliberate on the issues and recommendations. 57