Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) will organise a media workshop within a month to determine the state of press freedom in the country.

Suhakam commissioner Prof Mohd Hamdan Adnan said the workshop will include participation by various individuals and organisations including journalists and editors, information ministry officials, academics, as well as other media organisations in the country.

"We want to ensure a proper perspective of media freedom in the country. We will also invite the [proponents of the] media council, the National Union of Journalists and the Malaysian Press Institute," said Hamdan when met at Suhakam's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

The plans for a media workshop came after a group of journalists calling themselves Initiatif Wartawan submitted a memorandum to Suhakam on May 3, in conjunction with the World Press Freedom Day, calling for a repeal of the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA).

Under the PPPA, all publishers of the print media are required to apply for a permit from the home ministry and renew it annually.

Suhakam's commissioners gathered for a monthly meeting today to discuss the commission's plan of action for the year. To date, several outstanding issues are pending action by the human rights body including an inquiry into the Internal Security Act detainees, the release of the Sarawak Native Customary Rights report, and the unresolved issue over the Kampung Medan racial riots.

On the Sarawak report, which addresses the issue of land rights of the state's natives, Hamdan said it has yet to be completed.

ISA inquiry

Meanwhile, Suhakam vice-chairperson Harun Hashim said the commission has determined at today's meeting to conduct the ISA inquiry but declined to reveal when it will commence.

"It will be done after the groundwork preparations are completed," said Harun who was also at the Suhakam office this afternoon.

The inquiry is said to encompass a cross-section of ISA detainees held in Kamunting including members of the Shia faith, the Al-Ma'unah martial arts cult and six reformasi activists.

The announcement by Suhakam to hold the inquiry was in response to a hunger strike carried out by the six reformasi activists and ISA protesters in April. The strike, which lasted 11 days, was held to mark the first anniversary of the detention of the six individuals.

The reformasi activists are Keadilan leaders Tian Chua, Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, Saari Sungib, Lokman Nor Adam, Dr Badrulamin Bahron, as well as malaysiakini columnist-cum-film maker Hishammudin Rais.