CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE The year 2020 was a challenging year for many worldwide, including Malaysia. The COVID-19 pandemic dominated the headlines every day since the coronavirus swept through countries around the world. The pandemic and its devastating economic and social impacts have tested Malaysia and its people’s resilience. Even before the pandemic, Malaysia was already facing many human rights issues which have yet to be addressed fully. These include, among others, poverty, access to basic needs for vulnerable communities, broad laws which disproportionately restrict human rights like freedom of expression and media freedom, and other pending human rights reforms recommended by SUHAKAM. The pandemic just added fuel to the fire. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only taken lives - it has led to other negative impacts such as the closure of businesses, loss of jobs and lack of access to basic rights such as healthcare and education. The pandemic was also a wake-up call. It emphasised the existing inequalities and vulnerability faced by the Indigenous Peoples, urban poor, rural communities, stateless persons, refugees and asylum seekers, and migrant and undocumented workers. Simultaneously, the change of government in February 2020 and the political turmoil which followed further aggravated the situation. The government implemented various drastic and extraordinary measures to contain the pandemic, including border closures and movement control orders. Health screening is now compulsory at all points of entry and public spaces. The government has also offered free testing and treatment for noncitizens with COVID-19 symptoms. It has also allocated additional funds to improve its response to the pandemic, such as the procurement of medical equipment and services to cater to rising healthcare demands from the pandemic. During the earlier movement control period, SUHAKAM was unable to operate as usual since the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia was not regarded as “essential services” under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020. While SUHAKAM notes that the government’s measures were critical for protecting public health, human rights should not be sidelined in a pandemic. viii ANNUAL REPORT 2020