Suhakam desak kerajaan laksana reformasi hak asasi manusia / Suhakam presses government on human rights reforms

[ENGLISH VERSION BELOW] Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Suhakam) mengalu-alukan pembentangan dan perbahasan Laporan Tahunan 2024 di Dewan Rakyat pada 7 dan 8 Julai yang melibatkan penyertaan seramai 36 Ahli Parlimen yang membahaskan pelbagai isu hak asasi manusia yang memberi kesan kepada negara.

Perbahasan ini mencerminkan komitmen berterusan Parlimen untuk memastikan hak asasi manusia terus menjadi komponen penting dalam tadbir urus negara dan kebertanggungjawaban demokrasi.

Suhakam merakamkan setinggi-tinggi penghargaan kepada Azalina Othman Said, menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri bagi undang-undang dan reformasi institusi, atas usul membentangkan dan membahaskan laporan tahunan tersebut, sekali gus menegaskan komitmen kerajaan dalam memajukan, melindungi dan memenuhi hak asasi manusia selaras dengan Perlembagaan Persekutuan, kedaulatan undang-undang serta kepentingan awam.

Suhakam turut merakamkan penghargaan khas kepada M Kulasegaran, timbalan menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri bagi undang-undang dan reformasi institusi, atas penggulungan perbahasan serta komitmen berterusan beliau dalam memperkukuh agenda hak asasi manusia demi manfaat seluruh rakyat Malaysia.

Sepanjang perbahasan selama dua hari tersebut, AP daripada kedua-dua belah pihak Dewan telah menunjukkan penglibatan yang amat memberangsangkan dengan membahaskan pelbagai isu hak asasi manusia serta reformasi institusi.

Isu-isu utama yang dibangkitkan ialah:

• Memperkukuh kuasa statutori Suhakam, termasuk meningkatkan fungsi penyiasatan dan pemantauan, memastikan maklum balas yang tepat pada masanya dan bersifat substantif terhadap syor-syor Suhakam oleh kementerian dan agensi, serta meningkatkan sokongan kewangan dan institusi bagi membolehkan suruhanjaya melaksanakan mandatnya dengan lebih berkesan
• Melindungi hak kanak-kanak dan kumpulan rentan lain, termasuk wanita, warga emas, orang kurang upaya, Orang Asli dan masyarakat peribumi, serta pekerja migran, di samping memajukan reformasi sistem keadilan juvana dan memperkukuh perlindungan hak ekonomi, sosial dan budaya
• Menggubal kerangka perundangan dan dasar yang komprehensif berkaitan
• Memperkukuh pendidikan hak asasi manusia dan pembangunan kapasiti melalui pelaksanaan pelan tindakan pendidikan hak asasi manusia 2.0, peluasan modul latihan hak asasi manusia serta pengintegrasian pendidikan hak asasi manusia dalam sistem pendidikan negara
• Memajukan reformasi penjara dan pusat tahanan, termasuk menambah baik keadaan tahanan, menangani isu kematian dalam tahanan, meningkatkan ketelusan dan akauntabiliti, serta memperkukuh program pemulihan, parol dan reintegrasi
• Melindungi hak dan kebajikan pekerja gig, termasuk memastikan keadaan pekerjaan yang adil, keselamatan pekerjaan, perlindungan sosial, jaminan pendapatan serta mekanisme penyelesaian pertikaian yang berkesan
• Menangani isu kewarganegaraan, dokumentasi dan akses kepada identiti sah, khususnya bagi individu yang berdepan halangan untuk mendapatkan dokumen pengenalan diri dan mengakses perkhidmatan awam yang penting
• Memperkukuh perlindungan hak asasi manusia dalam program pemulihan dan rawatan dadah dengan mengutamakan maruah insan, amalan berasaskan bukti serta penghormatan terhadap hak asasi manusia
• Menangani cabaran hak asasi manusia yang dihadapi oleh komuniti luar bandar dan kawasan yang kurang mendapat perkhidmatan, termasuk memastikan akses yang saksama kepada infrastruktur, perkhidmatan asas dan peluang pembangunan
• Memperkukuh penyelarasan antara agensi, kesepaduan dasar serta kerjasama seluruh kerajaan dalam memajukan dan melindungi hak asasi manusia
• Menggalakkan kerjasama yang lebih erat antara Parlimen, kerajaan dan institusi bebas bagi memastikan komitmen serta syor berkaitan hak asasi manusia dapat dilaksanakan dengan berkesan

Suhakam mengalu-alukan perbahasan yang bersifat membina dan substantif ini, yang mencerminkan pengiktirafan semakin meluas bahawa isu hak asasi manusia merentasi semua sektor dan memerlukan tindakan yang selaras daripada kerajaan, Parlimen serta semua pihak berkepentingan.

Suhakam menegaskan bahawa laporan tahunan merupakan satu mekanisme kebertanggungjawaban yang penting bagi menilai situasi hak asasi manusia di negara ini, mengenal pasti cabaran sistemik serta mengemukakan syor-syor praktikal untuk memperkukuh perlindungan dan pemajuan hak asasi manusia. Laporan Tahunan 2024 ini memberi tumpuan kepada 11 bidang utama, iaitu:

1. Reformasi institusi dan pemerkasaan perlindungan hak asasi
2. Hak kanak-kanak dan kumpulan
3. Kewarganegaraan dan isu tanpa kewarganegaraan
4. Pelarian dan migran
5. Kematian dalam tahanan dan keadaan pusat-pusat tahanan
6. Hak Orang Asli dan Orang Asal dan masyarakat peribumi serta tanah adat
7. Hak orang kurang upaya, hak wanita dan kesaksamaan jantina
8. Pendidikan dan kesedaran hak asasi manusia
9. Reformasi perundangan dan dasar
10. Perniagaan dan hak asasi manusia
11. Penglibatan Malaysia dalam mekanisme hak asasi manusia di peringkat antarabangsa

Suhakam menghargai maklum balas yang membina serta komitmen yang ditunjukkan oleh pelbagai kementerian dan agensi terhadap isu-isu hak asasi manusia yang mendesak.

Sehubungan itu, Suhakam berharap agar segala keprihatinan, syor dan cadangan yang dibangkitkan sepanjang perbahasan Parlimen dapat diterjemahkan kepada dasar, reformasi perundangan dan langkah-langkah pentadbiran yang konkrit oleh kementerian dan agensi berkaitan.

Pelaksanaan yang berkesan terhadap syor-syor tersebut akan terus memperkukuh institusi awam, meningkatkan akauntabiliti serta mempertingkatkan perlindungan hak dan maruah setiap individu di Malaysia.

Suhakam kekal bersedia untuk bekerjasama rapat dengan kerajaan, Parlimen dan semua pihak berkepentingan dalam memantau kemajuan serta memperkukuh pendekatan berteraskan hak asasi manusia dalam tadbir urus negara. – Suhakam

English version

Turn debate into action: Suhakam presses government on human rights reforms

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) welcomes the tabling and debate of its 2024 Annual Report in the House of Representatives on 7 and 8 July, with the participation of 36 MPs who deliberated on a broad range of human rights issues affecting the nation.

The debate reflects Parliament’s continuing commitment to ensuring that human rights remain an integral part of Malaysia’s governance and democratic accountability.

Suhakam records its sincere appreciation to Azalina Othman Said, the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department responsible for law and institutional reform), for moving the motion to table and debate the annual peport, reaffirming the government’s commitment to advancing, protecting and fulfilling human rights in accordance with the Federal Constitution, the rule of law and the public interest.

Suhakam also expresses its special gratitude to M Kulasegaran, the deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department responsible for law and institutional reform, for concluding the debate and for his unwavering dedication to advancing the human rights agenda for the benefit of everyone in Malaysia.

Throughout the two-day debate, MPs from both sides of the House demonstrated strong engagement by deliberating on a broad range of human rights concerns and institutional reforms.

The key issues raised included:

• Strengthening Suhakam’s statutory powers, including enhancing its investigative and monitoring functions, ensuring timely and substantive responses to its recommendations by ministries and agencies, and increasing financial and institutional support to enable the commission to effectively discharge its mandate
• ⁠Protecting the rights of children and other vulnerable groups, including women, older persons, people with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and migrant workers, as well as advancing reforms to the juvenile justice system and broader economic, social and cultural rights
• Enacting a comprehensive legal and policy framework on refugees
• Strengthening human rights education and capacity-building through the implementation of the human rights education action plan 2.0, the expansion of human rights training modules, and the integration of human rights education within the national education system
• Advancing prison and detention reforms, including improving conditions of detention, addressing deaths in custody, enhancing transparency and accountability, and strengthening rehabilitation, parole and reintegration programmes
• Protecting the rights and welfare of gig workers, including fair working conditions, occupational safety, social protection, income security and effective dispute resolution mechanisms
• ⁠Addressing issues relating to citizenship, documentation and access to legal identity, particularly for individuals facing barriers to obtaining identity documents and accessing essential public services
• Strengthening human rights safeguards within drug rehabilitation and treatment programmes by promoting dignity, evidence-based practices and respect for human rights
• ⁠Addressing human rights challenges affecting rural and underserved communities, including equitable access to infrastructure, essential services and sustainable development opportunities.
• Enhancing inter-agency coordination, policy coherence and whole-of-government cooperation in advancing and protecting human rights
• Promoting stronger collaboration between Parliament, the government and independent institutions to ensure the effective implementation of human rights commitments and recommendations

Suhakam welcomes the constructive and substantive nature of the debate, which reflects the growing recognition that human rights issues cut across all sectors and require coordinated action by the government, Parliament and all relevant stakeholders.

Suhakam emphasises that the annual report is an important accountability mechanism that assesses the country’s human rights situation, identifies systemic challenges and offers practical recommendations to strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights.

The 2024 Annual Report highlights 11 core areas of focus:

1. Institutional reform and strengthening human rights protection
2. ⁠Rights of children and vulnerable groups.
3. ⁠Citizenship and statelessness
4. ⁠Refugees and migrants
5. ⁠Deaths in custody and conditions of detention centres
6. ⁠Indigenous peoples’ rights and customary land
7. ⁠Rights of people with disabilities, women and gender equality
8. ⁠Human rights education and awareness
9. ⁠Legislative and policy reforms
10. Business and human rights
11. International human rights engagement

Suhakam acknowledges the constructive responses and commitments from various ministries and agencies on pressing human rights matters.

Suhakam therefore hopes that the concerns, recommendations and proposals raised during the parliamentary debate will be translated into concrete policies, legislative reforms and administrative measures by the relevant ministries and agencies.

Meaningful implementation of these recommendations will further strengthen public institutions, enhance accountability, and improve the protection of the rights and dignity of everyone in Malaysia.

Suhakam stands ready to work collaboratively with the government, Parliament and all stakeholders to monitor progress and advance a human rights-based approach to governance. – Suhakam

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