Chairman’s Message when Malaysia attains that coveted status, it will still not be able to claim a legitimate place in the ranks of fully developed nations that have already acceded to these core instruments. There needs to be the necessary political will and the determination to forge ahead; Malaysia must keep abreast of the times in an increasingly globalised and borderless world, or stagnate in the backwaters of a bygone era. It is in Malaysia’s efforts to become a fully human rights compliant nation that a National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) plays a significant role. The Commission is gratified that the Government has endorsed this objective and has committed to formulating a NHRAP; indeed, of late, it has taken a number of preliminary but essential steps in that direction. The Commission places high priority on the success of the NHRAP and looks forward to working closely with the Government’s focal agency in ensuring that the process of developing the NHRAP will be done expeditiously and in a transparent and consultative manner involving all stakeholders, and that the Plan itself will be an ambitious yet realistic one. From October to November 2013, Malaysia will undergo its second Universal Periodic Review (UPR), during which its human rights commitments made in 2009 will be evaluated. As the UPR process is the most important and transparent evaluation exercise by the international community on the human rights record of a UN Member-State, it is imperative that national preparations are meticulous. The Commission hopes that the Government will be more open and receptive to the views of civil society, and will enhance its engagement with various stakeholders through more regular dialogues and the sharing of expertise in the UPR follow-up process, as well as in the preparation for the next UPR cycle for Malaysia. It certainly looks forward to the Government submitting an upbeat and positive report on the fulfilment of its human rights commitments, which would reflect well on the country’s position as a current member of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). The Commission, which had presented an interim report to the HRC in September 2011 on the implementation of UPR recommendations, has already begun the consultations process with stakeholders in preparation for its independent UPR report for the next cycle. While positive developments have been recorded on the human rights situation in the country, there remains uncertainty as to their future development and the speed with which they will be pursued and sustained. Certainly, there is a lot of room for improvement, not the least of which is the need for accession to the remaining core human rights instruments. The Commission will continue to engage with the Government and other stakeholders so as to ensure steady progression toward the attainment of higher human rights standards in the years ahead. Engaging Stakeholders The Commission is encouraged by the fact that there is now a better appreciation of its work and mandate. Unfortunately, there are those who continue to view the Commission as a nongovernmental organisation that is persistently critical of the Government, while others believe that it is an an appendage of the Government. It should be reiterated that the Commission was set up to play a complementary role to the Government. However, in undertaking its statutory role, the Commission is compelled from time to time to speak out on issues or developments 4