On 11 June, SUHAKAM organised a dialogue on ‘Human Rights and Statelessness
in Malaysia’ online. The meeting discussed, sought to understand and looked
for solutions to the problems faced by stateless persons in Malaysia, in terms of
economic, social, and cultural rights. Subsequently, SUHAKAM reiterated our
call for the Government to accede to the Convention Relating to the Status of
Stateless Persons 1954, Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness 1961 and
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951. SUHAKAM also organised
an online dialogue on ‘Human Rights and Poverty’ on 22 September to further
discuss issues highlighted in the Report of Special Rapporteur on Extreme
Poverty and Human Rights, Mr. Philip Alston, released in 2020, and the impact
of COVID-19 on various vulnerable groups.
Throughout 2020, SUHAKAM received a total of 756 complaints, with 375
complaints at our Kuala Lumpur office, and 311 and 70 through the Sabah
and Sarawak offices, respectively. During the MCO from March to May, and
subsequent Controlled MCO (CMCO) at selected areas, including Kuala
Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya in October and November, complainants
were encouraged to submit complaints through the telephone, email, online
complaint system to avoid the need for face-to-face engagements.
Of the 517 complaints SUHAKAM investigated, 142 cases were completed,
and investigations are continuing for the remainder. The highest number of
complaints related to nationality, arbitrary arrests, detentions or exiles, liberty
and security of persons, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,
and death in custody.
SUHAKAM conducted nine visits to detention centres throughout the country.
We observed that most of them lacked basic amenities and infrastructure,
and some were overcrowded. During these periodic visits, SUHAKAM called
on PDRM to improve or amend their standard operating procedure (SOP) on
the detention of individuals in police lock-ups.
SUHAKAM investigated 12 cases of death in custody. Six deaths occurred in
prisons, four in police lockups, and two at the immigration depot. SUHAKAM
reiterates our previous calls for the placement of medical personnel in
detention centres, as well as proper management and updating of prisoner’s
medical records, amongst others.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020
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