Executive Summary
Action Plan, supported the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department in the
development and drafting of the Plan.
REPORT OF THE SABAH OFFICE
The Commission’s Sabah Office in Kota Kinabalu received 300 complaints, most of which alleged
the violation of the rights of vulnerable groups. In addition, the Commission promoted human
rights through Roundtable Discussions, dialogues and exhibitions. Visits were organised to two
Community Learning Centres, the Central Prison of Kota Kinabalu and the Women’s Prison
Institution in Kepayan. Courtesy calls were paid on the Kota Kinabalu OCPD, the Mayor of Kota
Kinabalu City Hall, and the Head Registrar of the Syariah Court in Sabah.
REPORT OF THE SARAWAK OFFICE
Apart from investigating complaints, the Commission’s office in Sarawak conducted a
Roundtable Discussion on the rights of persons with disabilities, organised five talks on human
rights with the assistance of other agencies, and facilitated the public hearings held in Sarawak
for the National Inquiry into the Land Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Malaysia. Consultative
meetings on the UPR were held with government agencies and NGOs.
REPORT OF THE NATIONAL INQUIRY INTO THE LAND RIGHTS OF
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN MALAYSIA
Following the meetings and public consultations held in 2011, the Commission held public
hearings in Sarawak (27 February - 14 March), Peninsular Malaysia (27 March - 16 May) and
Sabah (4-16 June) involving relevant government agencies, affected indigenous communities,
individuals and experts, who testified before the Panel of Inquiry and tendered evidence.
Several core human rights issues were identified during the consultation process. These were
categorised as absence of recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ concept of Native Customary
Rights to land; administrative processes; impact of plantation schemes and commercial
development projects; inclusion of native customary land in logging and forest reserves, and
in state and protected areas; and inadequate compensation for the loss of Indigenous Peoples’
land, territories and crops.
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