Chairman’s Message in Parliament so as to allow for a broader exchange of views among Parliamentarians that could contribute constructively towards formulation of appropriate laws and policies in the interests of our indigenous peoples. The Commission is hopeful that its 12th Annual Report will be scrutinised and debated by Members of Parliament. It continues to hold the view that parliamentary debate on human rights issues, including those raised in this Annual Report, is important, indeed essential, for the vibrant and full-functioning democracy that is the Prime Minister’s aspiration for the country. Pending such debate, the Commission looks forward to this Report being discussed by the Permanent Parliamentary Select Committee on Human Rights that the Government intends to establish. The Commission welcomes this as a positive development in the parliamentary democratic process. At the very least, it is hoped that some of the issues raised in the Annual Report will be picked up by Members of Parliament in their own statements in the august House. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my Fellow Commissioners, namely, Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee who is the Vice-Chair, Prof Emeritus Dato’ Dr Mahmood Zuhdi Hj Ab Majid, Mr Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah, Mr James Nayagam, Mr Detta Samen and Ms Jannie Lasimbang for their commitment and contribution to the Commission’s collective work of carrying out its mandate. I also wish to record my deep gratitude to Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee for very ably steering the work of the Annual Report Committee in the preparation of this Report. In commending this Annual Report to Members of Parliament, and to the public at large, the Commission believes that it has discharged its duties and responsibilities to the best of its ability, despite constraints and limitations. Ultimately it is up to people of Malaysia, for whom the Commission was established, to make an objective evaluation of its work as the national human rights institution. TAN SRI HASMY AGAM Chairman The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia 6