The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) is seeking the power of enforcement to help solve land issues.

A commissioner Detta Samen said today it would be ideal if Suhakam had the power to bring certain issues to court.

"I do not know whether it is possible to amend the constitution to include enforcement, but we are now looking at this.

"We can make a proposal on this but, at the end of the day, it is not for us to decide," he told reporters after a roadshow to promote Suhakam's National Inquiry on Sarawak Native People's Land Rights in Sibu.

Earlier, when launching the roadshow, Suhakam chairperson Hasmy Agam also touched on enforcement.

He said Suhakam had no power to solve specific problems as it could only listen to, investigate and analyse complaints from the people, along with other institutions like the Bar Council.

He said that as such the complainants should not expect it to be able to solve their problems for them.

Hasmy said that since its formation 11 years ago, Suhakam had received about 2,000 complaints on land issues nationwide.

With the country developing fast, there would be many more issues on land encroachment surfacing, he said.

Meanwhile, so far this year, the commission had received 13 land-related complaints in Kuching, 35 in Serian and 12 in Betong.  

- Bernama