CHAPTER 1 and measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in places of detention, particularly police lock-ups, prisons and immigration detention centres. 2. PUBLIC OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT a) SUHAKAM Bersama Masyarakat (SBM - “Meet-the-People”) Programme The SBM programme remained a vital platform to raise public awareness on human rights and the work of SUHAKAM. It also continued to serve as a medium for community members to interact with SUHAKAM on various human rights issues affecting their lives. Due to the pandemic and MCO, SUHAKAM only managed to conduct two sessions: i. ii. SBM through Facebook Live (22 July). SBM with plantation workers in Batang Padang, Perak. This was jointly organised with the National Association of Smallholders Malaysia on 15 September. Issues of concern The following were the key issues raised by the SBM participants: i. Malaysia’s Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) settlers The settlers highlighted their financial burden under FELDA’s replanting programme as repayment would only be made to them four years after the replanting programme. During this period, the settlers have no choice but to rely on the loan given by FELDA as a source of income, resulting in a greater financial burden on them. The settlers also were concerned that there was no protection or compensation if they encountered any injury or accident while working. There was also concern about FELDA’s New Generation Housing project which was scheduled to be completed by 2017. This project was introduced to help the second generation of FELDA settlers own their first home. Nonetheless, the project has not been delivered and the second-generation settlers who have their own families now are still living with their parents. ANNUAL REPORT 2020 11