2. Public Outreach and Engagement CH A PT E R 1 a) SUHAKAM Bersama Masyarakat (“Meet-the-People”) Programme SUHAKAM continued to raise public awareness of human rights through its “SUHAKAM Bersama Masyarakat” programme in various parts of the country. During the year, SUHAKAM conducted a series of 5 such sessions in the Federal Territory and 3 other states with 1,848 people participating. The details of the sessions are as follows: i. PPR Beringin Kepong, Kuala Lumpur (25 March) ii. PPR Pantai Dalam, Kuala Lumpur (29 March) iii. Kuala Kangsar, Perak (24 July) iv. Hulu Terengganu, Terengganu (4 October) v. Langkawi, Kedah (22 November) Issues of concern The following were the key issues raised by the participants: i. Education Concerns were raised regarding the need for MOE and the state religious authorities to look into religious schools, namely Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR) and tahfiz schools, in Malaysia to ensure that these schools comply with the required standards in terms of safety, content delivery, capacity development for the teachers as well as a quality learning system. Some parents voiced their concern over heavy schoolbags and the possible health risks their children faced from carrying overweight schoolbags. They expressed hope that MOE would lift the burden off the students by reducing the number of textbooks they have to carry to and from school. The matter of stateless children’s basic right to education was also raised in one of the sessions by a concerned citizen who hoped that stateless children would be given an equal opportunity to receive proper education in Malaysia. A representative from a Parent Teacher Association in Langkawi raised a concern about underperforming schools on the island. The representative flagged the need for SUHAKAM to study the matter and make the necessary recommendations to MOE. SUHAKAM ANNUAL REPORT 2018 39