Chapter 3 - Report of the Research and Policy Development Group (ii) Input for research project The RWI approved the application of a grant for the research project entitled ‘The Role of SUHAKAM in Addressing Corporate Human Rights Violations: A Study on Logging and Plantation Industries in Malaysia’. To obtain input for the project and to coordinate implementation, the Commission organised a RTD on 7 and 8 November respectively. The first heard from alleged victims of corporate abuse of human rights, while the second was held with logging and plantation companies. The information obtained was incorporated into the project. The first draft was submitted to the RWI on 8 December for review. 2. RIGHT TO ADEQUATE HOUSING On 31 July, the Policy Development Division organised a meeting with government agencies and state authorities, including those of Sabah and Sarawak, on issues pertaining to the right to adequate housing. Some 40 representatives attended, including those from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Public Works Department, Department of Standards Malaysia, Department of Orang Asli Development and state authorities from Selangor, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Terengganu, Perak, Perlis, Sabah and Sarawak. The purpose of the meeting was to: (i) Obtain feedback on housing-related complaints and memoranda that the Commission has received from various stakeholders, including individuals and NGOs; and (ii) Follow up on a letter that the Commission had forwarded to various government agencies on 16 January, to obtain written feedback with regard to the Commission’s report published in 2004 entitled Human Rights: A Report of SUHAKAM’s Seminar on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. In addition, the meeting discussed current issues pertaining to the right to adequate housing and came up with recommendations to be proposed to the Government. (a) Access to Affordable Housing for Ownership or Rental Although low-cost houses have been built for those in the lower income group, such units are often beyond their reach. This is because of the house price and difficulty in obtaining a loan from financial institutions. As a result, the houses are sold to non-target groups. The Commission recommended that the Government should: 1. Identify appropriate areas of research and development to seek solutions to keep building costs as as low as possible without compromising on the quality of construction; 95