Review of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission
 The National Consultation provided an avenue for members of the civil society to express their concerns as well as to constructively criticise the performance SUHAKAM. The participants expressed their disatisfaction on the work done so far by the commission, and they called on the commission to play a more constructive role in promoting and protecting human rights in the country.
Major issues raised during the consultation were:
- racial clashes in Kampung Medan;
- minority rights;
- rights of the indigenious people
- press freedom; and
- police brutality
The speakers reveled the weakness of the SUHAKAM administration in terms of handling issues related to human rights violation in their presentations.
A university stuent called for greater freedom to be granted to student groups. He cited an example of how the government's latest move to legally bine students through a contract known as "I Pledge" which denies students the freedom of involvement in outside activities.
One concern was the economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights have always been ignored, as SUHAKAM does not give adequate attention to issues related to ESC rights, such as right to adequate shelter, right to education, right to land and right to employment.
The speaker who touched on the freedom of media expressed the industry's dissatisfaction with legislations which deprive the media in the country of the freedom to express itself in keeping with the right of the people to information. All speakers were in agreement that the lastest annual report that SUHAKAM submitted to the Parliament does not reflect the real status of the human rights situation in Malaysia.
Panel Presentation
- Ramdas Tikamdas, Chairman of the National Human Rights Society of Malaysia, presented a paper on the Evaluation of SUHAKAM;
- Steven Gan, Editor-in-Cheif of Malaysiakini.com, presented a paper on SUHAKAM and the Media;
- Irene Fernandez, chairman of Tnaganita, presented a paper on SUHAKAM and Civil and Political Rights;
- Chang Lih Kang, a student leader, presented a paper on Students views of SUHAKAM; and
- Abdul Rahman Said Alli, chairman of the Perak Consumer Association, presented a paper on SUHAKAM and ESC Rights.
Recommendations by participants
- SUHAKAM should be more forceful;
- SUHAKAM should be more accountable and transparent to the people;
- SUHAKAM should play a more assertive role;
- SUHAKAM should should press Parliament to pass a Freedom of Information Act;
- SUHAKAM should carry out more education and training of grassroots leaders in human rights;
- SUHAKAM should pay heed to national development;and
- SUHAKAM should once and for all get the government to repeal to Internal Security Act (ISA).
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