Act on Suhakam's recommendations now
Nurul NazirinPublished: Jun 30, 2005 4:01 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) wants the authorities concerned to act quickly on the complaints and recommendations raised in its Annual Report 2004 wherever it is possible to do so.
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) wants the authorities concerned to act quickly on the complaints and recommendations raised in its Annual Report 2004 wherever it is possible to do so.
Commissioner Prof Mohd Hamdan Adnan said for example, the issue on offering better protection for women could be looked into right away.
"We hope that the parliamentary select committee on human rights will look into matters to help disadvantage groups expeditiously," Hamdan said when contacted today.
He was commenting on the responses from various ministries to the Suhakam report last year.
In the report released recently, Suhakam brought up complaints from non-governmental organisations, the disabled, Orang Asli, women, children and detainees. It also came up with suggestions to improve situations raised by these quarters.
To this, the respective ministries have responded, as stated in the appendix of the report.
Hamdan told malaysiakini that "much more was expected from the ministries".
"Although there were some 'complex' matters such as land ownership of Orang Asli which need a longer period to implement, other issues like giving better protection for women could be looked into right away," he pointed out.
According to Hamdan, there were more responses from the authorities, compared to the previous reports, with the Internal Security Ministry giving the most input.
Suhakam is required to submit its annual report not later than the first Parliament meeting of the following year. The first Parliament meeting this year was held from March 21 to April 28.
However, the report was tabled in the Parliament on June 20, two months' late.
Orang Asli matters
Meanwhile, on the Orang Asli issue brought up by Suhakam, the Rural Development Ministry said that the Orang Asli Welfare Department will continue to provide water supply to Orang Asli villages throughout Malaysia.
Replying to the same matter, the Health Ministry said that it is part of the ministry's cleanliness and health environment programme to ensure that there is water supply particularly in rural areas.
The alternative rural area water supply will focus on ground water resources, rain water catchment, development of ground water supply and shallow water treatment technology.
Besides this, the ministry asserted that the government has started community development programmes to upgrade the socio-economy of rural people including the Orang Asli.
Commissioner Prof Mohd Hamdan Adnan said for example, the issue on offering better protection for women could be looked into right away. "We hope that the parliamentary select committee on human rights will look into matters to help disadvantage groups expeditiously," Hamdan said when contacted today.
He was commenting on the responses from various ministries to the Suhakam report last year.
In the report released recently, Suhakam brought up complaints from non-governmental organisations, the disabled, Orang Asli, women, children and detainees. It also came up with suggestions to improve situations raised by these quarters.
To this, the respective ministries have responded, as stated in the appendix of the report.
Hamdan told malaysiakini that "much more was expected from the ministries".
"Although there were some 'complex' matters such as land ownership of Orang Asli which need a longer period to implement, other issues like giving better protection for women could be looked into right away," he pointed out.
According to Hamdan, there were more responses from the authorities, compared to the previous reports, with the Internal Security Ministry giving the most input.
Suhakam is required to submit its annual report not later than the first Parliament meeting of the following year. The first Parliament meeting this year was held from March 21 to April 28.
However, the report was tabled in the Parliament on June 20, two months' late.
Orang Asli matters
Meanwhile, on the Orang Asli issue brought up by Suhakam, the Rural Development Ministry said that the Orang Asli Welfare Department will continue to provide water supply to Orang Asli villages throughout Malaysia.
Replying to the same matter, the Health Ministry said that it is part of the ministry's cleanliness and health environment programme to ensure that there is water supply particularly in rural areas. The alternative rural area water supply will focus on ground water resources, rain water catchment, development of ground water supply and shallow water treatment technology.
Besides this, the ministry asserted that the government has started community development programmes to upgrade the socio-economy of rural people including the Orang Asli.
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