Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) was established by Parliament under the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, Act 597. The Act was gazetted on 9 September 1999. The inaugural meeting of SUHAKAM was held on 24 April 2000. The functions of SUHAKAM as set out in Section 4(1) are: 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. Furthermore, section 4(4) of the Act provides that regard shall be had to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 (UDHR) to the extent that is not inconsistent with the Federal Constitution. This means that whatever rights and liberties not mentioned in Part II but refe...