HUMAN RIGHT AND SOCIETY

SURUHANJAYA HAK ASASI MANUSIA MALAYSIA

(SUHAKAM)

SURUHANJAYA HAK ASASI

MANUSIA MALAYSIA
(SUHAKAM)

INTRODUCTION
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
was established by Parliament under the Human Rights
Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, Act 597.
The functions of SUHAKAM as set out in Section 4(1) are to
promote awareness of and provide education relating to
human rights,advise and assist Government in formulating
legislation and procedures and recommend the necessary
measures to be taken,recommend to the Government with
regard to subscription or accession of treaties and other
international instruments in the field of human
rights,inquire into complaints regarding infringements of
human rights.
The mission of SUHAKAM is to promote and protect
human right in Malaysia. SUHAKAM has five working
groups that focuses on different aspects of Human Rights

OBJECTIVE
To study the function and authorities of
SUHAKAM
(untuk mengkaji fungsi dan bidang kuasa
SUHAKAM)
2. To study the background of SUHAKAM
(untuk mengkaji latar belakang SUHAKAM)
3. To study the charter of SUHAKAM
(untuk mengkaji Piagam SUHAKAM)
1.

FUNCTION AND AUTHORITIES ABOUT SUHAKAM

FUNCTION
1.

2.

3.

4.

to promote awareness of and provide

education relating to human rights;
to advise and assist Government in formulating
legislation and procedures and recommend the
necessary measures to be taken.
to recommend to the Government with regard
to subscription or accession of treaties and
other international instruments in the field of
human rights.
to inquire into complaints regarding
infringements of human rights.

AUTHORITIES
1. disseminate and distribute the results
of such research.
2. to advise the Government and/or
relevant authorities of complaints
against them and to recommend
appropriate measures to be taken.
3. to study and verify any infringement of
human rights.

CONT
4. to visit places of detention in
accordance with procedures as
prescribed by laws relating to the
places of detention and to make
necessary recommendations.
5. issue public statements on human
rights as and when necessary
6. to undertake appropriate activities as
are necessary.

BACKGROUND OF
SUHAKAM

EVENTS
DATE
1993

The international attention on human rights as a

result of the success of the 1993 World
Conference on Human Rights in Vienna

1994

As leader of the Malaysian delegation to the

UNCHR, Tan Sri Musa, in 1994 first suggested to
the Government that the time was right for
Malaysia to establish its own independent national
human rights institution.

1995

seven Asian countries, including two from ASEAN Indonesia and the Philippines - had already
established national human rights institutions,
while Thailand was in the midst of setting up its
own.

24 APRIL 1999

JULY 1999

the Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid

Albar, announced that the Government
the Government would table a Bill

DATE
3 APRIL 2000

24 APRIL 2000

EVENTS
the Government announced the appointment of
SUHAKAM's first Chairman, Tan Sri Dato' Musa bin
Hitam, and the 12 other members of the Commission
to serve a two-year term, which is renewable.
The inaugural meeting of SUHAKAM

24 NOVEMBER 2000 The Commission rented its own premises on the 29th
and 30th floors of Menara Tun Razak at Jalan Raja Laut,
Kuala Lumpur
JANUARY 2001

The Commission relocated to a new premise on the

10th, 11th, 12th and 13th floor of Menara TH Perdana
at Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.

CHARTER OF SUHAKAM

SUHAKAMthe National Human Rights Institution

established by the Human Rights Commission Act 1999
(Act 597), with due compliance with the 1993 Paris
Principles Relating to the Status of National Institutions
1.

ASSERTSits mandates to promote and protect human

rights in Malaysia,

2.

ADHERESto the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

(UDHR) 1948, to the extent that it is not inconsistent with
the Federal Constitution

3.

RECOGNIZESthe diversity of the cultures, religions and

moral values in a multi-racial society,

4.

RECOGNIZESthat human rights continue to be

universally developed,

1.

2.

3.

4.

The statutory responsibilities of

SUHAKAM
To promote awareness and provide education
relating to human rights.
To advise and assist the Government in
formulating legislation and procedures and
recommend the necessary measures to be
taken.
To recommend to the Government with
regard to the subscription or accession to
treaties and other international instruments
in the field of human rights.
To inquire into complaints regarding
infringements of human rights.

SUHAKAM shall fulfil these

responsibilities
1.

Promoting awareness of human rights and

undertaking research and conducting programmes,
seminars and workshops and to disseminate and
distribute the results of such research.

2.

Advising the Government and/or relevant authorities

of complaints against them and to recommend
appropriate measures to be taken.

3.

Investigating and verifying any infringement of

human rights.

4.

Working with civil society organizations and human

rights defenders for the promotion and protection of
human rights.

5. Conducting Public Inquiries on major

infringements of human rights.
6. Visiting places of detention in accordance
with procedures as prescribed by laws
relating to places of detention and to
make necessary recommendations.
7. Issuing public statements on human rights
as and when necessary.
8. Undertaking appropriate activities as are
necessary.

Development of annual strategic plans

of action on core areas of concern
1.

2.

3.

4.

Inculcation of human right values in all

Malaysians.
Promotion and protection of Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights as well as Civil and
Political Rights.
Advocacy and monitoring for the ratification,
accession and implementation of
international human rights treaties by the
State.
Advocacy and recommendations to amend or
repeal laws those are against the principles
of human rights.

The framework of operation for

SUHAKAM shall be guided by the
following core values

CONCLUSION

the
end